WVU scrambling for game plan

Given the option, Rich Rodriguez would easily take an extra twodays' rest over trying to counter the unknown.

Still, East Carolina's delayed debut - today at Cincinnati - willcreate a few problems for Rodriguez's West Virginia University team.Those regular non-conference rivals meet 7 p.m. Saturday at EastCarolina.

"It changes things a little bit," Rodriguez said. "It's the samefor both teams in they'll get film from us on Tuesday. The differenceis we're completely in the dark."

Speaking on a teleconference Sunday, the day after WVU's season-opening 24-17 home loss to nationally ranked Wisconsin, Rodriguez andhis staff will be quickly pressed into comprising a strategy for thePirates.

Compounding the "unknown" factor is that for the first time since1991, ECU is not coached by Steve Logan. Former Florida defensivecoordinator John Thompson replaced Logan, who was fired after lastseason.

"They'll at least be able to break us down because we'll do a lotof the same things (as last season)," Rodriguez said. "We'll bescrambling hard on Tuesday to put a game plan together."

Thompson kept two members of Logan's 2002 staff, recruitingcoordinator/running backs coach Jerry McManus and strength coach JimWhitten.

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NOTHING BROKEN

The Mountaineers were hampered Saturday by minor injuries thattook downs away from critical players such as quarterback RasheedMarshall, tailback Quincy Wilson, linebacker Grant Wiley and freesafety Jahmile Addae.

Of all the ailments, it appears Addae's is the worst.

"He strained his (left) shoulder again," Rodriguez said. "It isday-to-day. Hopefully, he'll be OK by mid-week."

Sophomore Anthony Mims played in Addae's place after the fourth-quarter injury.

Marshall complained of sore ribs after a hard, high hit byWisconsin linebacker Alex Lewis. He missed about two quarters of thegame. Wilson hurt his right knee when leaping during a carry, but heis suffering only from a bruise. Some of Wiley's woes had to do withhelmet repair.

"I kind of yelled, 'Throw anyone's helmet on,' " Rodriguez said.

Wilson will return to practice today, albeit with a coating ofpain.

"It's a deep bruise," Rodriguez said. "Nothing that will keep himfrom practice or being able to play this weekend."

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THE NEW GUYS

In Rodriguez's mind, WVU has five new offensive line starters. Thetwo expected back from last season are Tim Brown (season-endingAchilles' tendon injury last week) and junior Jeff Berk (who movedfrom guard to left tackle).

Against a veteran Wisconsin defense, the offensive line performedadequately, Rodriguez said.

"I thought they held up mentally," Rodriguez said. "But it wastough to move those big guys out of the way and create anyconsistency in the running game."

The true newcomer was sophomore Garin Justice, who assumed theright tackle job Wednesday night after Brown's in-practice injury.Rodriguez planned to split Justice's time with fellow sophomore JoshStewart, yet Justice, a Gilbert High graduate, played most of thecontest.

"Garin actually played pretty well," Rodriguez said. "I was goingto give them even time, but he was holding his own. A few times hegot beat, but that will happen."

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ROD RAP:

* On WVU's punting, which suffered a first-quarter block: "I wasvery disappointed in the punting game. That was one of the keys towhy we didn't get the win. ... We want (punter Todd James) to be alittle quicker. He didn't have the type of day we know he's capableof."

* On depth and how injuries magnified that problem: "It shows usif we want to compete at the highest level week in and week out, wehave to have some depth. You can do it through recruiting and playingyoung guys. ... We didn't play our young guys as much as we wantedto."

* On the Lewis hit that knocked Marshall from the game: "I thoughtit was a clean shot. I thought (at first) it was a helmet-to-helmetblow, but it was more a shoulder pad under the throat. Another shoton (backup quarterback) Charles Hales was a helmet-to-helmet blow."

Writer Mike Cherry can be reached at 348-5170 or by e-mail atmikecherry@dailymail.com