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Coughlin expects to use starting offense more

By WTOP Staff

JIM HAGUE
Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin expects to play his starting offense more in the next preseason game, and isn’t concerned about the team’s slow start under new coordinator Ben McAdoo.

“There are some things out there that definitely need improvement,” Coughlin said Sunday in his weekly conference call with the media. “There are some good things and some bad things. We have to keep moving in the right direction and hope that there are more good things.”

After the Giants beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-16 Saturday night, engineering a 12-play, 80-yard drive late in the fourth quarter behind third-string quarterback Curtis Painter, Coughlin said he hopes to get his first-string offense more opportunity to play together this week against the Indianapolis Colts.

“Of course, it’s important to have them out there more,” Coughlin said. “We would like to see more with our ones (starters). We’re going to practice like that all week. We will let our offensive line play a little longer. I think that’s important to have them play together. We’re trying to get some consistency together. That’s why we play preseason games.”

It means that starting quarterback Eli Manning will get more than four series against the Colts and will have the opportunity to throw more than just the two passes (both of which were incomplete) he attempted against the Steelers.

“I think we’ll get some of our vertical passing in, but we haven’t seen it yet,” Coughlin said. “But I certainly think that’s coming.”

If there is one item of concern, it is the glaring amount of penalties the Giants have been called for in the early going. The Giants were called for 10 penalties Saturday night and were flagged six times against Buffalo in the Hall of Fame game last weekend.

“We were told coming in that the officials were going to call things tighter,” Coughlin said. “We had our meetings in the spring and voted on rule proposals. Then, when we returned to camp, they told us what was going on. We were told full well that they were going to follow the letter of the law in terms of illegal contact, in terms of pass interference. We knew full well. We were to expect the enforcement would be full-fledged. It’s not a surprise the way the games have been called.”

Coughlin said he was pleased with the kicking game, as both incumbent placekicker Josh Brown and challenger Brandon McManus connected on long field goals. Other than the opening drive, Coughlin said he liked the effort of his defensive unit, including cornerback Prince Amukamara running down speedy Pittsburgh rookie receiver Dri Archer on a short screen that looked like it would become a score, and former Pro Bowl selection Jason Pierre-Paul’s strong performance.

“I thought JPP played well and gave good effort,” Coughlin said. “He was in good position for most of the game. I thought Prince showed outstanding speed and had a great angle against a speedy wide receiver. Our guys played hard and that’s all you can ask for in a preseason game.”

NOTES: Coughlin reported that the lone injury to come out of Saturday night’s game was a possible concussion to fullback John Conner. The former New York Jets draft pick, who joined the Giants’ roster late last year, was hit in the second quarter and came off the field. “We’re going to take the proper protocol,” Coughlin said about the NFL’s strict policy on head injuries. “He seemed fine and his eyes were bright, but he will go through the proper protocol. It’s all about safety first, then we’ll see where he’s at and whether he can practice or play.” A further determination about Conner’s condition will be done Monday. . Coughlin said first-round pick Odell Beckham, Jr., who has been slowed by a hamstring injury throughout training camp, will see some increased responsibility Monday and maybe begin to catch passes. The WR from LSU has been limited to just fielding punts in a standing position throughout training camp.

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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