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Panthers plan to involve TEs more in offense

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Ron Rivera said the Carolina Panthers plan to use their tight ends more in the passing game this season.

The Panthers added free agent Ed Dickson this offseason to go along with Greg Olsen, giving them a pair of receiving options at tight end similar to what they had in Rivera’s first season in 2011 with Olsen and Jeremy Shockey.

“Absolutely,” Rivera said when asked if the moved was designed to replicate three years ago. “You want that double threat.”

The Panthers became a little too predictable when the team paired Olsen with Ben Hartsock, who was known almost exclusively for his run-blocking ability.

“The way it was (last season) it’s like here’s one guy who is your primary blocker and here’s one guy that’s your primary receiver,” Rivera said. “Now we bring Ed Dickson in and you say, ‘Which one is which?'”

Rivera likes that both Dickson and Olsen are versatile enough to block and still be downfield threats.

Dickson has shown good speed in training camp and has the potential to be a big-time option in the passing game. He caught 54 passes for 528 yards and five touchdowns in 2011 with the Baltimore Ravens.

Dickson’s numbers dropped off the past two years — he averaged 23 receptions for 249 yards and one touchdown per season — but the Panthers view the fourth-year veteran as a big pickup.

Rivera believes Dickson will be a perfect complement to Olsen when the Panthers go to two-receiver sets because it will create mismatches.

It worked in 2011.

Olsen and Shockey combined for 82 receptions for 995 yards and nine touchdowns that season — Cam Newton’s first at quarterback.

The Panthers didn’t re-sign Shockey in 2012, instead adding Hartsock to the mix.

Hartsock didn’t catch a pass last season. Olsen, however, had a career season with a team-high 73 receptions for 816 yards and six touchdowns.

“We are trying to do those things that we did when we were first here,” said Rivera, who is entering his fourth season with the Panthers. “Last year Olsen led us in receptions, so what can we do if we have another vertical threat tight end?”

Dickson signed a one-year deal with the Panthers in part because he could play with Newton and Olsen.

“It was an easy decision for me,” Dickson said.

Carolina also added free agent tight end Mike McNeill, who is primarily a blocker, to go along with young prospects Brandon Williams and D.C. Jefferson.

Rivera said earlier in camp that tight end could be the toughest position on the team to make cuts this summer.

“We have five tight ends we really like,” Rivera said.

The Panthers are also hoping the tight end position eases some of the pain of parting ways with their top four wide receivers this offseason.

Carolina released Steve Smith, the franchise’s career leader in receptions, yards receiving and touchdowns, and allowed Brandon LaFell, Ted Ginn Jr. and Domenik Hixon to leave via free agency.

Carolina added free agents Jerricho Cotchery, Jason Avant and Tiquan Underwood and drafted Kelvin Benjamin from Florida State, but the group has been an easy target for critics who feel the team didn’t do enough to restock and doesn’t have a legitimate No. 1 receiver.

“It’s kind of been the story line of the offseason,” Olsen said. “Any time the Panthers have come up that’s kind of been the first comment made by everybody. I think guys are just kind of tired of it. I think we feel confident about our group.”

___

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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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