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Dolphins want more offense under new coordinator

By WTOP Staff

STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins’ fourth training camp practice had just ended Tuesday, and new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor stepped before a media throng to address the state of the offense, his voice hoarse from hollering.

He hadn’t been shouting a bunch of compliments.

“A wise coach told me once, there’s no bad as long as you learn from it,” Lazor said. “That’s where we are.”

Lazor was hired to upgrade an offense that kept Miami out of the playoffs last year, and while players rave about the system he has installed, there is much work yet to be done. A search remains ongoing for starters at three offensive line positions, and it’s unclear how quickly quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the rest of the unit can become comfortable with the new playbook.

Lazor has added more motion, shifts and formations. He wants to be more wide-open while deploying players in multiple positions more often. Most of all, he wants the offense operating at a faster tempo.

“My voice is like this because I’m yelling, ‘Tempo!'” he said. “I’m trying to get them out of the huddle faster. They’re going as fast as they can go, and it’s my job to show them they can go faster. It’s my job to take them places maybe they didn’t think they could get to. Every time you do that with a player, his eyes widen and he’s like, ‘I can be better.’ That’s what we’re looking for.”

But tempo’s tough to achieve when a team’s going three-and-out, which happened all too often in Joe Philbin’s first two years as coach.

In 2013 the Dolphins ranked 27th in the NFL in yards, gave up a franchise-record 58 sacks and saved their worst of last. They scored once in their final 24 possessions while losing twice to blow a potential playoff berth.

“We haven’t been super productive on offense,” Philbin said. “Let’s get that out on the table. That’s a fact.”

In January, Philbin fired offensive coordinator Mike Sherman and hired the 42-year-old Lazor, who had been quarterbacks coach with the Philadelphia Eagles and helped develop second-year pro Nick Foles into the NFL’s top-rated passer.

The Dolphins’ expectation that things will be different under Lazor begins at the top.

“I’m very excited about Bill Lazor and what he brings to the team,” team owner Stephen Ross said. “That’s probably a major improvement.”

A former Cornell quarterback, Lazor has coached under Chip Kelly, Dan Reeves, Joe Gibbs and Mike Holmgren. He describes himself as a difference-maker, which is what Philbin needs after going 15-17 in his first two seasons.

“That’s not to point the spotlight on me,” Lazor said. “It’s more to put the responsibility on me. I’m here to do positive things, provide leadership and help with the expertise. I choose to walk into a job and say, ‘This is what we’re going to make the situation.'”

The buzz about Lazor is such that news photographers and cameramen are restricted to tight shots at practice, an attempt to keep the full scope of the new offense under wraps.

Fans will see what has changed soon enough, Tannehill said.

“It’s a completely different system,” he said. “We have some new concepts, some things we haven’t done in the past, pushing the ball downfield in many different ways. Spreading the field is going to be a big key.”

Receiver Mike Wallace said Lazor adds a new play every day, and anticipates more diversity in the approach. Unlike last year, Wallace will line up on both sides of the field, and he’ll also be targeted over the middle more.

“You’re liable to be anywhere,” Wallace said. “Everybody is playing everything. You don’t have this job or that job; you’ve got all the jobs. That keeps you excited. It’s new for me, and it’s fun.”

Even so, the offense has often looked ugly during the first week of camp, with practices marked by fumbled snaps, blocking breakdowns, wildly errant passes — and screaming coaches.

“We have a whole team of guys who try to do it exactly the way we ask them to do it,” Lazor said. “They’re not perfect. They don’t get it all right. But they’re working hard to get it right.”

The season opener is less than six weeks away.

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

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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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