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Starting jobs wide open at linebacker for Titans

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have stocked up on linebackers this offseason, and they’re letting them compete to see who wins starting jobs in new defensive coordinator Ray Horton’s defense.

They signed veterans Shaun Phillips and Wesley Woodyard in free agency, added the linebacker designation to defensive ends Derrick Morgan and Kamerion Wimbley.

They also turned up the pressure on recent draft picks Akeem Ayers, Zach Brown and Colin McCarthy to show what they can do in a group that will be using four linebackers a lot.

Ayers and Brown started last season along with Moises Fokou and the Titans used a 4-3 defense featuring three linebackers.

“As far as the slotting of different positions, that’s going to be up to these guys,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said Wednesday. “I’ve said before we’ve had a lot of plays out there, so we’re getting a lot of information on them. And we’ll have a basis for how we’re going to start out (training camp), but it’s going to be in flux depending on how guys play.”

Now Phillips and Woodyard have an edge based on experience and the multi-year deals they signed in March.

Phillips is a 10-year veteran with 79 1/2 sacks over the past decade in the NFL, including 10 last year for Denver. Woodyard was a six-time team captain in Denver with experienced playing both the 3-4 and 4-3 as an inside linebacker.

Phillips signed with Tennessee knowing the style of defense Horton uses and the chance to go back to playing more 3-4 as an outside linebacker. He also knows Horton loves to chase quarterbacks, which Phillips loves to do.

All the additions make for a very crowded meeting room with 15 linebackers counting Morgan and Wimbley.

“It’s great because it allows friendly competition, healthy competition, and that’s what you want because that’s how you get better,” Phillips said. “There should be no animosity, there should be no beef.”

The Titans haven’t completely switched to a 3-4 defense in Whisenhunt’s first season. No matter how many linebackers are on the field, they need more big plays from the unit. The linebackers combined for only six sacks and just three interceptions last season with both Ayers and Brown playing all 16 games.

Brown was pulled from a game late last season and demoted from practicing with the starters. A second-round pick out of North Carolina in 2012, Brown ranked second on the team with 117 tackles and had four of the sacks by linebackers.

But Whisenhunt said Brown didn’t play fast at times last season and is being pressured to do better this season.

“You don’t react to things quickly you’re not going to play fast,” Whisenhunt said. “You’re going to end up watching the game instead of reacting to it.”

Ayers had only 56 tackles with one sack and one interception, but the second-round pick in 2011 out of UCLA was playing on bad knees. He had surgery this offseason to repair both of his patellar tendons with doctors fixing first his right in January followed by his left six weeks later.

His recovery has limited him this offseason, though Ayers is expected to be fully ready for training camp.

Once fully healthy, the Titans are looking for more production and consistency from the 6-foot-3, 253-pound linebacker once expected to be a star for this team for years to come.

That’s fine with Ayers who said earlier this month that it’s an even playing field with a new defense and coaches promising the best will play.

“We have everybody out here competing because everybody wants to be a starter,” Ayers said. “It’s making us better as a defense.”

___

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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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