WSU Football | Staff tweaks line, defensive backfield

After a draining, disheartening trip Friday to Baylor, WSU players probably just wanted to lie down. But Sunday, coach Paul Wulff made it clear he and his staff aren't taking an 0-3 start lying down.

Changes are in the wind for the Cougars after an abysmal 45-17 loss at Waco, Texas, in a game bumped up 16 hours by concerns over Hurricane Ike. WSU made the round trip and played, all in one day.

Portland State, a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly 1-AA) team that comes to Pullman on Saturday, will see a personnel shuffle by the Cougars:

Xavier Hicks, returning from a season-opening three-game suspension, will be back at safety and could start. So could Alfonso Jackson, whom the new staff had moved to cornerback in the spring; he's going back to safety.

Safety Myron Beck, out of Ingraham High and Glendale JC, has been switched to weakside linebacker.

The offensive line will undergo a makeover, as left tackle Vaughn Lesuma is being moved to guard to battle with redshirt freshman B.J. Guerra for the spot, while Lesuma's tackle post will be contested by redshirt freshman Steven Ayers and sophomore Joey Eppele, now healthy after a summer knee surgery.

Meanwhile, Wulff says he expects Kevin Lopina to start Saturday against the Vikings, although he said his wrist was sore and swollen Sunday and he didn't throw.

The rationale on the three position switches:

Wulff said Jackson's move to corner by the new staff was prompted by health and eligibility concerns, now eased. Hicks, suspended for putting rubbing alcohol in the contact-lens case of a now-departed teammate, "has done everything right since we've come to camp."

WSU's linebacker woes were evident in the Baylor loss, when freshman quarterback Robert Griffin rushed for a school-record 217 yards. Beck's playing time at weak linebacker — where he can be "closer to the ball," Wulff said — likely will come at the expense of Kendrick Dunn.

As for the left-tackle spot, Wulff said, "We've had too many breakdowns in pass protection out there."

In general, Wulff said, "We're new coaches, trying to figure out what we've got [among players], mentally and physically. ...

"We're finding some answers out. Whether we like them, we're finding some answers out."

After the defense played acceptably for much of the Oklahoma State loss, surrendering 367 yards, it has had a complete breakdown in the last two games, responsible for most of 111 points.

Last year, the Cougars gave up only one run of more than 56 yards. This year, it has already allowed five, including three at Baylor. Wulff says errors in defensive discipline have been underscored by two fleet playmakers in Cal's Jahvid Best and Baylor's Griffin.

The Cougars have committed 10 turnovers and gained only two.

Portland State comes to Pullman headed by ex-NFL coach Jerry Glanville. The Vikings beat Western Oregon in their opener, 31-14, and Saturday, lost to Cal-Davis, which got its first victory, 38-24.

Wulff says it's no time for WSU to exhale and assume a victory.

"They better not," he said. "They're seriously mistaken if they do; you see [upsets] all over the place."

Bud Withers: 206-464-8281 or bwithers@seattletimes.com