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Chiefs unsteady, uneven in preseason opener

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Depending on which part of the Chiefs’ preseason opener Andy Reid chose to watch, he could have come away thrilled about the prospects for the season or deeply depressed.

On defense, there were the interceptions that Sean Smith and Malcolm Bronson returned for touchdowns, and the impressive sack made by newcomer Joe Mays. But there was also blown coverage by cornerback Ron Parker, a slew of penalties and several breakdowns on the defensive front.

On offense, there was the 69-yard touchdown catch by tight end Travis Kelce and a couple of dazzling runs by second-year back Knile Davis. But there was also a three-and-out and a strip-sack of quarterback Alex Smith on the first two series the starters were in the game.

“There are a lot of good things and there are some things we need some work on. But we’ll get those corrected,” Reid said. “That’s why we’re doing the preseason here.”

Even the special teams were a bit uneven in the Chiefs’ 41-39 victory Thursday night.

Rookie playmaker De’Anthony Thomas set Twitter ablaze by catching a punt, spinning off a tackle and racing 80-yards for a touchdown — instant Vine material. But there were also several times that returners brought kicks out of the end zone that resulted in poor field position.

“This is certainly a teaching tool for everybody, no matter where you are on the depth chart,” Alex Smith said. “You have to be able to execute there.”

The Chiefs played most of their starters for about a quarter, though the first-team defense remained on the field for a bit longer.

The game offered opportunities to digest some of the more intriguing story lines:

— Chase Daniel threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, but he played well after that as he tries to solidify his backup job. Tyler Bray lost a fumble and Aaron Murray was generally ineffective in the few plays that he got near the end of the game.

— Parker’s grasp on the starting cornerback job opposite Marcus Cooper is tenuous. He was beaten by A.J. Green for a long reception in the first quarter, beaten again on a touchdown catch later in the first half and was also whistled for illegal contact. Meanwhile, Sean Smith’s pick return for a touchdown is certain to help his chances for regaining the job.

— The performance of the offensive line was sketchy. Former No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher, moving from right tackle to left, was beaten on the strip-sack in the first quarter. The second and third teams fared marginally better against the Bengals’ backups, and rookie guard Zach Fulton may have surpassed expectations in his debut after being chosen in the sixth round.

— Tight end may become one of the Chiefs’ strengths. Kelce missed his rookie season with a knee injury but proved he was healthy on his streaking touchdown grab. Fellow backup Demetrius Harris, who played basketball rather than football in college, also hauled in a 30-yard catch later in the game. Anthony Fasano remains entrenched as the starter.

“It was fun,” Kelce said, “but at the same time, this is still a practice. I’m itching to get out there for the regular season to show what I got.”

— Deeper on the depth chart, several rookies showed some promise. Undrafted wide receiver Albert Wilson helped his cause with a long kickoff return, proving he can help on special teams. First-round pick Dee Ford showed a quick first step in rushing the quarterback, and third-round pick Phillip Gaines broke up a couple of passes in man-to-man coverage.

“It’s football,” Ford said. “I was blessed enough to play on a very big stage at Auburn. This is like a college town in itself, it’s just the NFL.”

— The Chiefs rested several regulars because of nagging injuries, including Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry (heel), defensive tackle Mike DeVito (broken finger) and wide receivers A.J. Jenkins and Junior Hemingway (hamstrings). It’s unclear whether they’ll be ready when the Chiefs head to Carolina for their second preseason game on Aug. 17.

___

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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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