The Towel Rack Mailbag: Spring Game Lead-up

The Red and White Game will commence on Saturday in our first taste of Hilltopper football for 2018, as well as our last taste of football…

The Red and White Game will commence on Saturday in our first taste of Hilltopper football for 2018, as well as our last taste of football until, what, August?

Anyway, we put out an all-call for mailbag questions regarding the spring game (in what very well might just be the first truly targeted mailbag we’ve done), and we got some good stuff.

This question came after we had posted that we hadn’t gotten any questions yet (but, our first tweet didn’t come at a great time, either), but I like the second half of this — about the lack of enthusiasm for Sanford and the year.

Yes, I think there is a little bit, but it’s masked in some of the most tempered expectations we’ve seen surrounding WKU football. However, I think a lot of it isn’t so much hatred of Mike Sanford but rather the weariness of what WKU will be without Mike White or Deon Yelder or Nacarius Fant or take your pick of player who has left (which is ironic, considering that’s kind of what the spring game is for — getting a peak at what’s next in the pipe).

I also think it has more to do with still being salty about last year’s season as opposed to having down expectations to this year’s squad. A lot of things are going into it that don’t exactly match one narrative or another, but yes, there’s a considerable lack of enthusiasm this year.

Before I answer our next question(s), I need to shoutout our man Moff, who has been a TTR die hard since day one, and was one of the most loyal readers we had when we were Wave The Red Towel. He hooked us up with a bunch of questions, and he’s a good dude.

I’m going to go ahead and get this question out of the way because it caused quite the Twitter debate yesterday.

Sanford’s seat has no temperature, in my opinion. He’s losing a bunch of skill guys that’d set WKU up for success if they were to return this year, but he also did a good job of putting guys who’ll see major snaps on the field last year (to mixed feelings and results, without a doubt). It’s unrealistic to think a first-year head coach would only be given two years to prove success, especially when as much is being lost from first to second year as there is.

I say all that, but, if Sanford doesn’t become bowl eligible, then I’d begin to wonder if he’ll see a year three. But, as it stands (in my eyes, anyway), I think he’s safe for at least one more year. Then we’ll be able to put some do-or-die expectations on him.

Short answer: Yes. Of course.

Long answer: Yes. Of course. Even if Moses was 100% healthy and Baker was still on the squad, Ferby/Trigg/Samuels would have to be more efficient. I don’t think it’s possible for the Tops to be as awful at the run game as they were a season ago (please don’t pull this up if that actually proves to be true), but until one of those three/four backs emerge as the next Antonio Andrews, we’re going to have to see better production out of someone. Anyone.

I wanna say real quick that Moff asked a question about the offensive line as well, and more specifically how new OLine coach TJ Woods would basically impact it, but it isn’t showing up for some reason, so I’ll kind of do both of these questions in one.

For Jack’s question, it’s real simple — I expect to see positive progress in any tangible way. I want to see a 20+ yard run. I want to see good protection for Steve Duncan and Drew Eckles. I want to see an O-Line that looks competent, and I want to see the running backs have the time and space to make some cuts and runs.

As for Moff’s question about Woods, on paper I like him a lot. He was the engineer behind the line that protected Melvin Gordon and had four offensive lineman at Oregon State receive All-Pac 12 honors. However, I also know better than to think his changes will be apparent overnight, especially with a very fresh O-Line coming in.

And I think that’ll just about do it for this edition of the mailbag.

I did receive a couple of bits of info yesterday from football SID Kyle Neaves regarding the spring game.

Will there be a stream for fans not in Bowling Green to view?

Bummer. Well, what will the rosters look like? Are we going to have a fun fantasy-style draft like in years previous?

Hmm. I see.