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Raiders hope Schaub’s ’13 struggles are in past

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — When the Oakland Raiders made the decision to acquire Matt Schaub this offseason, they did it believing last season’s disastrous performance that led to his jersey being burned in effigy in Houston was only an aberration.

Nothing the Raiders have seen so far this offseason has dissuaded them from that belief. Coach Dennis Allen believes Schaub can solidify the revolving door at quarterback in Oakland and once again be the player who posted five straight seasons with a passer rating above 90.

“I think he’s been outstanding,” Allen said. “That’s what you’re looking for in a veteran quarterback. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of what we’re going to see out of Matt Schaub. Even though he is a veteran player, it’s still a different offense for him, it’s still something new. He’s still learning, but I’ve been very pleased with what I’ve seen out of him so far.”

The Raiders have gone through 17 starting quarterbacks the past 11 seasons as they have failed to post a winning record or make the playoffs in that span. They used three last season in Terrelle Pryor, Matt Flynn and Matt McGloin but only McGloin remains after Oakland went 4-12 for a second straight year.

While the Raiders are looking for a fresh face to take over the position, Schaub welcomes a fresh start after a rough 2013 in Houston when he set an NFL record by having an interception returned for a touchdown in four straight games, lost the starting job to Case Keenum and was harassed by frustrated fans who went as far as burning his jersey.

“It’s in the past,” he said. “I’ve moved on. That’s stuff that’s history. What we’re in control of is what we do moving forward and I’m into preparing for 2014. Anything that’s in the past is in the past. In this business, you have to have a short-term memory and move on from things or else it’s going to be downhill from there. We’re on to the next year.”

After spending seven seasons running Gary Kubiak’s offense in Houston, Schaub is learning a new system implemented by coordinator Greg Olson. Schaub likes that this offense gives the quarterback more freedom to make changes than he is used to and thinks it will suit his strengths.

Schaub said there is never enough time to fully learn an offense but he is pleased with the progress he has made this offseason adjusting with his new teammates.

“I’m pretty comfortable with all of it,” he said. “The subtle nuisances within each play, which can happen on the fly, I’m still working through those because this time of year you very rarely get each play with every single look. It’s all the mental reps you’re watching on film, so we’re still working through that. But I feel pretty comfortable with everything.”

Part of Schaub’s job this offseason as the leader of the offense has been bonding with his new teammates off the field. He has organized dinners, bowling outings and trips to baseball games in an effort for the offensive players to get to know each other better.

He also sent a text message welcoming quarterback Derek Carr to the team after he was drafted last month and is helping the rookie adjust to the NFL.

Carr has been impressive so far, taking second-team snaps away from McGloin, who started six games last season as an undrafted rookie.

“I’m not satisfied with being all right or just good,” Carr said. “I want to push myself to be the best I can at everything. I try not to ever let myself get comfortable.”

There have never been doubts about Carr’s physical tools. But he has impressed the coaches with his ability to understand the offense and make the necessary changes at the line of scrimmage and provides a viable option if Schaub struggles or gets hurt.

The coaches have thrown as much as they can at Carr to get him up to speed as quickly as possible.

“He’s a guy that has a great amount of confidence,” Olson said. “He’s an extremely intelligent player. He’s one of those guys you don’t feel the game is too big for him. There’s not any anxiety or nervousness when he enters the huddle.”

NOTES: WR James Jones missed practice with a sprained shoulder but is expected to be fully recovered for training camp. … The Raiders claimed T Emmett Cleary off waivers from Tampa Bay and waived WR David Gilreath.

___

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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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