Something suggests WVU won’t have quite the same success throwing the ball this week like they did last week. There’s the possibility of rain and wind, the latter worrying WVU more than the former, plus the fact the Mountaineers simply had to have sent a message to an ECU team that’s been guilty of the same defensive strategy Villanova tried and WVU thwarted.

So perhaps there’s either necessity or incentive — or both — for WVU to run the ball this week. Who, though, gets the work? Noel Devine had nine carries Saturday and is certainly capable of more. Jock Sanders had two, but caught eight passes and played many, many more snaps at receiver, so he can’t handle a ton more work. The backups were actually one backup and Mark Rodgers had one carry. Few questions about a questionable situation were answered. 

They need more, particularly Rodgers, who has safely established himself ahead of the other contenders.

It will be those three again this week — and perhaps longer. Neither Zach Hulce nor Terence Kerns dressed for the opener. Hulce had a shoulder stinger and is doubtful this week, although the coaches are eager to get him healthy and on the field.

“I feel like Zach can give us what we need,” running back/slot receivers coach Chris Beatty said. “He’s a bigger guy who can be good when those situations come around.”

Kerns seemed to be the bigger back the team had in mind, but he was healthy for the opener and simply didn’t dress as he continues to slowly acquiesce, perhaps toward a redshirt.

“I don’t ever want to say someone is definitely redshirting because you never know with injuries,” Beatty said, “but I think if he doesn’t play in the third or fourth game, something drastic would have to happen to change our mind.”