Mike Sanford can’t control whether a lineman makes or misses a block, whether a defender finishes or whiffs on a tackle or whether a receiver catches or drops a pass.

But the Western Kentucky coach says there’s one thing he can control: “who’s on the bench and who’s on the field.”

“The guys that emerge and show us they can play, I’m going to put them on the field,” Sanford said Monday at the Hilltoppers’ weekly news luncheon. “The guys that have shown that the moment’s going to be too big for them or they’re going to bat an eye when the situation gets pressure filled, those guys can’t play for us.

“That’s the old John Wooden adage is the head coach controls the bench – who’s on the bench and who’s not on the bench.”

WKU’s 20-7 loss at Illinois on Saturday offered Sanford and his staff the chance to evaluate where lineup changes need to be made.

The coach identified left tackle as a position he wants to open for competition. Parker Howell will compete this week in practice for the starting nod with Jimmie Sims, who started the Toppers’ first two games at the spot.

Both the redshirt sophomore Howell and redshirt senior Sims are listed as possible starters for WKU (1-1) this week at left tackle. Sanford said the starter “won’t be determined until game day.”

Game day is Saturday for the Hilltoppers, who’ll host Louisiana Tech (1-1) at 6 p.m. in both teams’ Conference USA opener. The matchup from Houchens-Smith Stadium will be streamed both on watchstadium.com and stadium.twitter.com.

Howell and Sims will both get chances this week to show why each deserves to be on the field Saturday when WKU opens its league season, Sanford said.

“We’ve got to make sure that (quarterback) Mike White’s backside is protected,” Sanford said “That’s not just a Week 1 or Week 2 theme. It’s been two weeks into the season.”

Sims had huge shoes to fill this season, stepping into the left tackle spot vacated by the graduated Forrest Lamp. A four-year starter, Lamp didn’t allow a sack each of the last two years and was selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers.

Sims, 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds, isn’t a stranger to the field. He’s appeared in 35 games since 2014 and started seven last season – one at left tackle in place of an injured Lamp and six as a blocking tight end.

The New Orleans native Sims got the chance this season to be a full-time starting left tackle. He’s one of three new starters on the front five, joining right tackle Matt Nord and right guard Miles Pate.

Sanford said that after evaluating two games worth of tape he’s “very pleased” with Nord. The coach said the redshirt sophomore Pate made “our biggest improvement” between the season-opening win against Eastern Kentucky and the Illinois game.

Center and left guard, home to returning starters Dennis Edwards and Brandon Ray, have been “pretty solid,” Sanford said.

But left tackle is an area where Sanford said the Hilltoppers need to improve. Howell, a 6-4, 290-pound redshirt sophomore, has appeared in seven career games.

“I think at the left tackle position, Jimmie is incredibly physically gifted, probably one of the more physically gifted offensive linemen in our program,” Sanford said. “He’s very talented. Just making sure all our players understand you have to compete every day to keep your job.

“Parker Howell is a guy that’s always come to work every day with the right mindset and attitude. So has Jimmie. But Parker, he’s a guy that has played with really good technique and has used the techniques that (offensive line coach Geoff) Dartt’s taught him. We’re going to open it up and see who does a better job this week at practice.”

Whoever starts at left tackle, WKU’s offense will need to perform better than it did last time out if it wants to accomplish one of its key 2017 goals – winning a third straight C-USA title.

Through two games, the Hilltopper offense ranks 107th across the FBS in points per game (19), 126th in yards per carry (1.89) and 108th in yards per play (4.68). By contrast, last year’s WKU team led the nation in both points per game (45.5) and yards per play (7.65).

The Tops managed just one touchdown Saturday against the Fighting Illini. That came on a 2-yard White touchdown run, finishing a short drive set up by an Antwon Kincade interception.

WKU turned the ball over twice, with White throwing a pick-six from his own end zone while under pressure from Illinois defenders. White also gave up a fumble after getting sacked from his backside.

White, the preseason C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, has been sacked five times this season.

The running game meanwhile has been a nonfactor. Backs Quinton Baker and D’Andre Ferby combined for 25 yards on 12 carries against the Fighting Illini, one week after WKU averaged 2.5 yards per carry against EKU.

Wide receiver Quin Jernighan said he expects a competitive environment this week at practice as offensive coaches determine who should and shouldn’t be on the field Saturday night.

“We come in there each and every day and compete for a spot because we know it’s competition,” the redshirt sophomore Jernighan said. “We’re young guys fighting to get playing time on the field.”