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Eagles hope key additions make difference on D

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — While stats suggested the Philadelphia Eagles needed to overhaul their defense, they only made a few changes. And they are expecting vast improvement.

Safety Malcolm Jenkins, cornerback Nolan Carroll and first-round pick Marcus Smith are the major additions for a defense that was the worst in franchise history in yards allowed. The 6,304 yards the Eagles gave up were 15th-most in NFL history and the 4,636 passing yards were fifth-most.

But the Eagles think they will be much better on that side of the ball. They need the defense to go to the next level to better their results from last year, when they won the NFC East and lost a first-round playoff game to New Orleans.

Jenkins, a former defensive captain on the Saints, gives the secondary a leader it’s been missing since Brian Dawkins left after the 2008 season. He signed a three-year, $16.25 million contract on the first day of free agency.

“I’ve learned the defense really quickly and have been able to transition that on the field,” Jenkins said. “I understand why they brought me in and that’s to run the secondary and make the calls and I take that seriously so I put in a lot of time learning and studying. Now I’m at the point I sit down and talk to the coaches to see how we can to tweak it and go to that advanced course and really start to do some creative things.”

Jenkins had 48 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in 14 games last year, helping the Saints finish second against the pass.

“He’s added that true leadership to our back end that we needed,” linebacker DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s a guy who has stepped in and been vocal, a guy who has stepped in and made plays for us. He’s not afraid to make the calls. He steps in. He’s done a great job fitting right in with our defense. He’s the piece we’ve been missing. He’s really added a lot of experience to our defense, a lot of smarts. We really need him.”

Carroll gives the Eagles more depth at cornerback, where Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher are the incumbent starters and Brandon Boykin is the starter at the nickel spot.

“We understand the depth and we’re making each other better,” Williams said.

Smith, a linebacker from Louisville, was a surprise selection by the Eagles with the 26th pick in the draft. He’s unlikely to start right away in Philadelphia’s 3-4 defense, but teammates rave about him.

“He’s really stepped in and you really don’t see him as a rookie,” Ryans said. “He’s like one of us already, like a vet already, the way he’s stepped in and just meshed with everybody in the locker room.”

The team is counting on players to improve because it’s their second year under defensive coordinator Billy Davis. After a poor first month last season, the defense came along. While they were allowing yards at record-breaking numbers, they kept teams off the scoreboard. There was a stretch of nine straight games when the defense didn’t allow more than 21 points.

Second-year safety Earl Wolff is among many players who feel more comfortable with Davis’ system in training camp.

“I feel like I’m out here making calls, running around, flying around,” Wolff said. “Last year around this time, I was still trying to figure out what my coverages were. I was still kind of second-guessing myself. Now, I’m real comfortable. Now that I know it like the back of my hand, I can go out and call it and get ready to play.”

NOTES: Five-time Pro Bowl LB Kevin Greene is spending a few days in camp with the Eagles, giving them pass-rushing tips. Greene had 160 career sacks in a 15-year career with the Rams, Panthers, Steelers and 49ers. “It’s an honor to be out here and have him coaching me up,” Smith said. Davis said Greene belongs in the Hall of Fame. “He shouldn’t be here this week. He should be getting a gold jacket,” Davis said. “The guy has got 160 career sacks and I know I’m prejudice to him but I really do believe it’s time for him to be in the Hall.”

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

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

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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