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Raiders look to build on sloppy exhibition opener

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

NAPA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders got off to a false start to their exhibition season.

Right tackle Menelik Watson’s penalty before the first snap of the preseason opener Friday night set the tone in a 10-6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings that left the Raiders with much to work on this week.

There were 13 penalties, numerous dropped passes, missed tackles and blown coverages as the first-team offense generated just one first down on three drives and the starting defense struggled to get off the field.

“We obviously need to play better and we need to be more consistent,” coach Dennis Allen said Saturday. “But I thought there were some things we can build on.”

Matt Schaub struggled in his first appearance with the Raiders, going 3 for 7 for 21 yards and being out of synch with his receivers. Schaub was also hurt by the penalties, starting with Watson’s false start.

Schaub was also unable to overcome a facemask penalty on tight end Brian Leonhardt on the first play of the second drive and a holding penalty on left tackle Donald Penn negated a first-down pass to Andre Holmes on Schaub’s final drive.

There were also two third-down passes that tight end Mychal Rivera was unable to hold onto that could have extended drives.

“I was not displeased with Matt Schaub’s performance,” Allen said.

Oakland had one other first down wiped out by a penalty and three times extended Minnesota drives with either holding or illegal use of hands penalties on third-down incompletions.

“The penalties were the biggest thing that we had to deal with,” Allen said. “A couple of those are this year’s points of emphasis with the NFL and with the officials with defensive holding or illegal contact down the field. That’s an area that we have to get cleaned up.”

Rookie Derek Carr fared slightly better than Schaub as he was able to move the team down the field at times. But he was intercepted on a high pass off fullback Jamize Olawale’s hands and finished 10 for 16 for 74 yards.

Allen said there are no plans at this time to give Carr time with the first-team offense in the preseason.

Oakland’s only score came late in the fourth quarter on third-sting quarterback Matt McGloin’s TD run.

There were a few bright spots, including a 23-yard run for Darren McFadden on his only carry and solid performances from fellow running backs Maurice Jones-Drew and Latavius Murray.

The defense generated six sacks, including a forced fumble by rookie Shelby Harris, and backup cornerbacks Chimdi Chekwa and TJ Carrie played well at times.

The Raiders have a busy week before they play their first home game of the preseason next Friday against Detroit. Oakland returns to practice on Sunday before breaking camp in Napa the following day. The Raiders will have two joint practices with the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard on Tuesday and Wednesday before returning home for a walkthrough before the game against the Lions.

NOTES: Rookie defensive tackle Justin Ellis left the game with a head injury and his status for this week is unknown. … CB Jansen Watson also injured his toe in the game and his status for practice Sunday is up in the air.

___

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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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