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Offense or defense? Kelly and Eagles have to pick

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Chip Kelly has to choose between another playmaker for his dynamic offense or a player to bolster a defense that needs the help.

The Philadelphia Eagles went from worst to first in the NFC East in Kelly’s first season as coach thanks to an offense that set team records for points (442), total net yards (6,676), touchdowns (53), and gross yards passing (4,406).

The defense improved drastically after a poor first month, but struggled in a first-round playoff loss to New Orleans. So the Eagles should be leaning toward adding an impact defensive player with the 22nd overall pick in the NFL draft.

Their two top needs are a pass-rushing linebacker and defensive back. However, general manager Howie Roseman has a “take-the-best-player-available” philosophy. It’s worked well for him the last two years.

Here’s five things to know about the Eagles going into the draft:

RATING THE QBs: Despite Nick Foles’ breakout season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Eagles ended up with a quarterback in the draft.

Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles, Derek Carr and Teddy Bridgewater are considered the top four guys. One or two may be available when the Eagles pick in the first round. Would they pull the trigger if it’s Manziel?

Kelly said he “loves” Manziel and the kid broke his heart when he chose Texas A&M over playing for him at Oregon. Foles said he doesn’t care if the Eagles draft 10 quarterbacks. Roseman said the Eagles will take the player rated highest on their draft board.

Stay tuned.

TRADING PLACES: The Eagles have made 13 draft-day trades, including seven involving the first three rounds, since Roseman became GM in 2010. Considering they only have six picks in this draft, it’s likely they’ll make a move or two to acquire extra selections. That could mean trading down and moving out of the first round. But having fewer picks doesn’t make them reluctant to trade up, either.

“I’d like to have 15 picks, but we have to get the right guys and that’s the most important thing,” Roseman said. “When you look back at successful drafts, if you can come out of it with three starters, that is a really good draft. There aren’t a lot of drafts where you can come out and do that. So we still have enough picks to do that. Obviously, you’d always like to have more picks …”

Philadelphia has drafted more players (41) in Roseman’s four years as GM than any other team in the NFL.

REPLACING DESEAN: Releasing three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson after the best season of his career was a gutsy move for Kelly and Roseman. Many draft gurus predict the Eagles will select a receiver in the first round. But there’s plenty of depth at the position, so they could wait and get a quality player later in the draft. They’ll be looking at bigger receivers. The diminutive Jackson had excellent speed, but wasn’t much of a threat over the middle because of his size.

Whether it’s early or late, the Eagles expect to draft a receiver.

“I think there will be a point in this draft, and that could be in the seventh round when we have a guy (rated) in the fourth round, that there is going to be a really talented receiver,” Roseman said. “I just feel like when you look back at the history of the draft, the wide receiver position always goes later to begin with, and now with the influx of the underclassmen at the position, I just think that’s how it’s going to turn out now.”

SAFETY CONCERNS: The Eagles have had a huge void at safety since Brian Dawkins left after the 2008 season. Malcolm Jenkins, signed away from New Orleans in free agency, could solve the problem. Second-year pro Earl Wolff showed potential as a rookie. So, don’t expect Philadelphia to take a safety, especially in this draft class.

“I don’t think it’s a good group overall,” Roseman said. “I think that you’re talking about a drop-off certainly when you get to (rounds four to seven).”

POST-DRAFT: The extra two weeks to prepare for the draft allowed teams to focus on evaluating players who won’t be drafted. There will be plenty of quality rookie free agents available, especially with 102 early entrants.

“(I) really know those guys better than I’ve ever known guys later on the draft board,” Roseman said.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.organd www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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