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Jets’ Smith getting bulk of 1st-team snaps

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets’ quarterback situation is no mystery.

And, if it was, everyone has gotten enough clues by now to solve it.

While no one who has a say in the decision-making process has come right out and said it, it has become very clear that Geno Smith is the starting quarterback and Michael Vick is the backup. Today, tomorrow and next month.

And it’s offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s task to make it all work.

“Here’s my job, this is my responsibility and my duty, really: I’ve got to continue to progress the young quarterback that’s got 16 games under his belt,” Mornhinweg said Wednesday. “That has to happen.”

That’s why, despite Vick’s extensive experience and familiarity with Mornhinweg’s offense, Smith is getting the bulk of the work with the starting offense in minicamp and will continue to do so in training camp in late July.

“Things can change, as you know,” Mornhinweg said. “They’ll start out very similarly. Geno has gotten, and he’ll get about, let’s say 70-75 percent of the reps with the 1’s. Geno, I’ll get him a couple reps there with the second group as well.”

It’s not a major revelation, especially after Mornhinweg recently acknowledged that the snaps wouldn’t be equal between the two quarterbacks — confirming Vick’s assertion that it wasn’t necessarily an “open competition.” The two will continue to compete, of course, with Smith getting the chance to end any debate with a solid showing this summer.

From what Mornhinweg has seen, he believes that could end up being the case.

“Last year about this time … things were spinning on him a little bit, which was certainly anticipated,” Mornhinweg said. “We started our offseason, he’s got the bull by the horns (and) he’s driving it. Quite different that way.

“Very confident, very sure of himself with each play.”

Last season, Smith threw 12 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions after being thrust into the starting job when Mark Sanchez was lost for the season with a shoulder injury. Cutting down on the turnovers has been the major focus since December. Quarterbacks coach David Lee has worked closely with Smith, who is getting rid of the ball a lot faster than he was at any point a year ago.

“He’s thrown a couple of interceptions since OTAs and hadn’t thrown any in minicamp,” Lee said. “Of course, it’s not 82,000 (fans) out there and nine million people watching on television. And that’s really where you’ve got to evaluate a quarterback is in those games.

“That’s when you really know how much better he’s gotten when you get to the ballgames.”

But if Smith struggles or is injured, Mornhinweg is counting on Vick — who thrived under him during their four seasons together in Philadelphia — to be able to step in seamlessly and lead the offense.

“We just have to get Michael Vick playing at the high level that he played at in the past within this system,” Mornhinweg said. “So, he needs some reps.”

Both Smith and Vick are getting used to a revamped wide receiver corps, which has Eric Decker, Jeremy Kerley and a host of others trying to earn roster spots. That might be where the real competition is with the Jets — not with the guys throwing the football, but the guys catching it.

“We are extremely deep at that spot,” Mornhinweg said. “So we’ve got more than a handful of guys that can play at a high level.”

David Nelson and Jacoby Ford are two veterans vying for spots, while youngsters Greg Salas, Clyde Gates, Michael Campbell and Saalim Hakim and draft picks Jalen Saunders, Shaq Evans and Quincy Enunwa are also in the mix.

“We’ve got four to five guys total that I know can play at a real high level, that will catch the ball consistently, will separate consistently,” Mornhinweg said. “We have three to four guys who can really run. I mean fast, fast. … Then we have another handful of guys, many of them young players that have shown some things where, this is going to be a heck of a competition here for some roster spots and some playing time and being able to help our football team.”

Coach Rex Ryan is also intrigued by a promising group of tight ends, including Jeff Cumberland, second-round pick Jace Amaro and the developing Zach Sudfeld.

“I could see Marty being real creative with this group,” Ryan said.

Running back Chris Johnson is expected to be ready to go when training camp opens after recovering from offseason knee surgery. Chris Ivory rolled an ankle Wednesday, but Ryan said it was nothing serious. If healthy, Johnson and Ivory could form one of the league’s most lethal backfield duos.

“We need to get Chris Johnson on the field,” Mornhinweg said. “He needs some reps, certainly, but it is going to be exciting. At least I’m excited.”

___

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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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