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Weatherspoon’s injury forces Falcons to adjust

By WTOP Staff

GEORGE HENRY
Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Losing linebacker Sean Weatherspoon to a season-ending injury has caused a ripple effect throughout Atlanta’s defense.

Weatherspoon, a first-round draft pick in 2009, would’ve started on the inside and run the huddle, but his torn Achilles tendon means that Paul Worrilow and Joplo Bartu now hold starting jobs at both inside spots as the Falcons transition to more 3-4 fronts.

“Yeah, we had to do all of the (offseason training activities) without Sean,” Worrilow said Wednesday on the second day of mini-camp. “It’s kind of the same roles we had last year, but now heading into training camp, we’re going to have to pick up our leadership.

“Being vocal out there is what you need at this position.”

Rookies Prince Shembo, Marquis Spruill and Yawin Smallwood are in the mix to earn snaps behind Worrilow and Bartu, who moved into starting roles last year as undrafted rookie free agents.

It gives the Falcons, who went 4-12 last season, plenty of inexperience on the inside of a defense that ranked last in third-down efficiency and second-worst against the run and had the third fewest sacks.

Atlanta has played without Weatherspoon for much of his career. The former Missouri standout set career highs with 80 tackles, four sacks, 14 tackles for losses and eight pass deflections in 2011, but that was the only season that he played 16 games.

Weatherspoon’s injuries last season were magnified by the ineffectiveness of Stephen Nicholas and Akeem Dent, each of whom failed to hold significant roles and gave Worrilow and Bartu a chance to play.

The season ended with Worrilow and Bartu playing the first- and second-most snaps on the defense, but coach Smith hesitates to say that both have secured starting jobs.

He wants to see how much Shembo, Spruill and Smallwood can push them.

“My big point to our guys from the very beginning is it’s all going to be about competition,” Smith said. “We’re going to compete and to me that’s the most important thing and the thing that’s the most fun about the game of football and any athletic endeavor is going out to compete.”

It’s not an ideal situation for Smith and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, but without lots of veteran depth, the Falcons have no other alternatives.

“Gosh, we’ve got some really young LBs,” Smith said. “We drafted three and I think their head is swimming. We’ve probably got them on overload right now. You can see their athleticism. They can make plays but then there are those that you go, ‘What in the world was he thinking?’ “

Career defensive ends Osi Umenyiora, Kroy Biermann, Jonathan Massaquoi and Stansly Maponga are lining up at outside linebacker, but Nolan says the Falcons aren’t too worried about their long-time veterans adjusting to new roles.

“There is a lot of youth,” Nolan said. “As I’ve experienced in the past, you’d like to have that youth in about three or four years rather than always being (raw) youth because that’s when they’re at their best.”

The linebackers have been studying film of other successful 3-4 fronts in the league.

For Massaquoi, there’s plenty to learn, particularly in watching how well outside linebackers such as Tamba Hali of Kansas City, Robert Mathis of Indianapolis, Ahmad Brooks of San Francisco, Terrell Suggs of Baltimore and Jason Worilds of Pittsburgh man their positions.

“It’s always good to look at guys from those teams that have perfected that position,” Massaquoi said. “For me, it’s all about being out here and getting the reps and getting thrown in the fire.”

___

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

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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