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Blaine Gabbert learning 49ers’ system

By WTOP Staff

RICK EYMER
Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Although Blaine Gabbert may be fairly new in the locker room, he’s had plenty of time to familiarize himself with the San Francisco 49ers’ playbook.

The latest addition to the quarterback group comes with solid credentials, though without much NFL success despite starting 27 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars the past three years.

“The biggest thing is a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball,” Gabbert said Friday. “That makes the quarterback’s job easy.”

Gabbert, drafted in the first round, the 10th pick overall out of Missouri, of the 2011 draft was handed the job in Jacksonville without much preparation and without much of an offensive line.

The Jaguars are still rebuilding. And the early struggles cost Gabbert his starting job and he was traded to the 49ers in March for a sixth-round draft pick.

“Blaine is very smart and he knows the plays,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “He’s showing all the signs of developing quite rapidly and executing very well.”

With Colin Kaepernick, drafted in the second round in 2011, entrenched as the starter, Gabbert is the leading candidate to take over the backup spot. Josh Johnson and McLeod Bethel-Thompson are also candidates.

“We’re all pretty comfortable,” Gabbert said of the QB group. “The only thing I have to do is master the playbook. Kaep has been a good sounding pad to bounce questions off.”

Harbaugh is pleased with Gabbert’s progress so far and has indicated he’s willing to give Gabbert time to develop and understand the system.

“Colin is farther ahead; he’s at the highest level,” Harbaugh said. “It’s great, with a capital ‘G,’ and Blaine is coming along. I’ve always said, six months later you’re going to be very far along in this system, but not as far along as you will be after a year, and after two years you’ll most likely be an expert in this system.”

Gabbert has the added bonus of having three coaches with extensive quarterbacking experience in Harbaugh, Geep Chryst and intern George Whitfield Jr., who helped train Johnny Manziel for the NFL combine.

That’s something that was not available to him in Jacksonville, where he also went through a handful of coaching changes and had to relearn offensive schemes.

He’s likely to get extended time in next week’s exhibition opener at the Baltimore Ravens and Gabbert is looking forward to it.

“Just playing against a different opponent,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to play football.”

Gabbert and linebacker Aldon Smith, both Missouri products, were two of the first 10 picks of the 2011 draft. The 49ers selected Smith with the seventh overall pick.

“When we came into school together, you knew he was a special talent,” Gabbert said. “He’s big and he’s fast.”

NOTES: WR Anquan Boldin was thrown out of late practice after an altercation with DB Darryl Morris according to reports on csnbayarea.com. … DT Glenn Dorsey, who celebrated his 29th birthday, sustained an apparent left arm injury during the same practice. He came back out in sweats and watched the rest of practice. … Levi’s Stadium hosts its first event on Saturday: a MLS game between the San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders. Harbaugh said he has no qualms with soccer opening the stadium. “Let the games begin,” he said. “We know how important this game is for them.” The 49ers are taking the day off. … Harbaugh said RB Jewell Hampton impressed him when he kicked a 50-yard field goal during practice. “It was a straight toe kick, without the steel plate,” Harbaugh said. … Rookie linebacker Chris Borland, a Wisconsin grad, talking about rookie running back Carlos Hyde, from Ohio State: “He ran all over us. He has quick feet, he’s smooth and there is no hesitation in his breaks. You can’t be back on your heels against him.”

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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