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Schaub settles in as Raiders starting QB

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

NAPA, Calif. (AP) — The anointed starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders is strengthening his hold on the position this training camp instead of losing it.

Matt Schaub is showing signs that last year’s disastrous season in Houston might have been an aberration as he looks in complete command as Oakland’s starter.

The performance comes in stark contrast to what happened with Matt Flynn last summer. Acquired to be the starter in the offseason, Flynn lacked the necessary arm strength in training camp and ultimately lost his job to Terrelle Pryor before getting cut early in the season.

Despite the presence of big-armed rookie Derek Carr, Schaub is showing no signs of giving up the starting position with the Raiders.

“Schauby’s getting his mojo back,” said defensive tackle Antonio Smith, who was a teammate of Schaub’s in Houston during his highest and lowest moments as a pro. “He’s getting his confidence back. He’s starting to believe in himself again.

“He’s starting to throw with confidence. Those are things you need to be a successful quarterback. You would be surprised just much a mindset is important in this game. … The moment you are doubting yourself is the moment you start throwing a lot of interceptions and stuff.”

That’s exactly what happened to Schaub last season with the Texans when he set an NFL record by having an interception returned for a touchdown in four straight games.

Schaub threw 14 interceptions in all while losing the starting job to Case Keenum and posting a 73 passer rating that was his lowest in seven seasons as a starter.

After starting the season with back-to-back wins, the Texans lost their final 14 games and traded Schaub to the Raiders for a sixth-round draft pick in March.

“It was like a snowball effect,” Smith said. “A lot of things went wrong early on even though you felt you were playing some good ball. But you had key things happen to you in key moments. Lost a few games, then everybody starting to panic trying to find something wrong. And then things just get all out of whack.”

Schaub has put 2013 in the past and is focusing instead on reviving his career in Oakland where he is enjoying the opportunity to learn a new offense under coordinator Greg Olson after spending seven years running Gary Kubiak’s system in Houston.

While Schaub lacks the true No. 1 receiver he had in Houston all those years with Andre Johnson, he is excited to work with Oakland’s group that includes James Jones, Rod Streater, Denarius Moore and Andre Holmes.

“We’re still trying to mold what our offense is going to be and what each guy’s role in it will be,” Schaub said. “We’ll find out what guys do well. What things work, what things we like to do against certain looks and defenses. … It’s an exciting chance to get going with this football team and this organization and climb that mountain.”

Schaub had success during his tenure in Houston, making a pair of Pro Bowls during his seven seasons as a starter. In 2009, he led the NFL in yards passing (4,770), completions (396) and attempts (583) and was fifth in touchdown passes (29).

In 2012, he threw for 4,008 yards with 22 touchdowns and 12 interceptions to help Houston to its second straight AFC South title.

The Raiders believe he can put up those kinds of numbers again and that he can be a top 10 quarterback in the NFL.

“I think he’s in a good frame of mind,” coach Dennis Allen said. “I think he’s very hungry. I think he’s excited about the new opportunity. I think anytime you go into something new there’s a little bit of, maybe it’s an increased focus, an increased intensity level, because it is new. You kind of force yourself out of your comfort zone a little bit. I think he’s done that.”

___

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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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