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Ever-elusive Vick an option as Jets’ wildcat QB

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — Michael Vick and the wildcat package could be the perfect pairing for the New York Jets.

Sure, the mere mention of the formation might cause some Jets fans to break out into sweats after how it was so unsuccessfully executed with Tim Tebow two years ago. But with this quarterback and in this offense, it could make a whole lot of sense.

Used sparingly, of course.

“It’s Mike Vick,” linebacker Calvin Pace said Saturday. “Anytime you see that name on the back of the jersey, as a defensive player you are aware of what he could do with his legs and also with his arm. It puts pressure on the defense.”

Exactly right.

And even if Vick doesn’t overtake Geno Smith for the starting quarterback job, there’s a potential for seeing the 34-year-old quarterback on the field throughout the season. Rex Ryan did not dismiss the idea of using the ever-elusive Vick as a change-of-pace option in a wildcat-like or zone-read package.

Vick, signed in March to back up Smith, has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons because of his all-out approach on the field. But, as he showed in the Jets’ 13-10 preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night, he still has a knack for making plays. Vick drew loud cheers with a 15-yard run for a first down in the second quarter.

“I recognize the guy’s got special talent,” Ryan said. “There’s no question about it. But am I aware of, ‘Hey, could he be more vulnerable?’ For instance, we only ran a couple of zone-read runs the entire game. During the season, we ran more than that, so we ran some wildcat, we ran zone-reads, all that type of stuff, but in the preseason we only ran two of them in the entire game.”

Smith, an athletic quarterback in his own right, had a 10-yard, Vick-like scramble for a first down on a zone-read option against the Colts.

The Jets worked on the wildcat for an entire period Saturday as the team returned to practice, a planned package of plays put into the schedule — Vick or no Vick.

“It made no difference on who was here,” Ryan said. “We did it last year. So, you’re trying to get your team prepared, your offense, because it is something that we have in our playbook and the same thing with the defense. You’ve got to defend it. You’ve got to be ready to see some of those plays. So it’s good on both sides. To say I’ve really changed or thought about it, I really haven’t.”

After the game, Vick wasn’t high on the idea of being used in a wildcat-like role, saying it disrupts the timing of the starting quarterback and the offense. But he also recognized that it could be a possibility.

“When the time calls for it,” he said, “then I think the coaches will see fit that that’s put in.”

The wildcat is a formation in which the ball is snapped to someone other than the quarterback — many times a direct snap to a running back. A zone-read is an option offense in which the quarterback takes the snap and decides whether to hand it off to the running back or run the ball himself.

“A guy who is running around, he puts a change-of-pace element in the game that you can’t really prepare for,” Pace said. “That’s not the guy you can really defend. You can’t put somebody on him 1-on-1 the whole game. He just adds the element to you that he can take a broken play and take it 80 (yards).

Ryan acknowledged that an offense can be disrupted by using a change-of-pace quarterback, but also recognizes the benefits of having a player who can be effective in those types of plays.

“It’s been done and teams have been successful doing it,” he said. “You look at Miami with Ronnie Brown. I think it’s who your personnel is. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be a disruptive thing. It could be something that’s to your advantage.”

NOTES: C Nick Mangold missed practice to be with his wife Jennifer, who gave birth to a girl. Ryan was asked if he knew the baby’s birth weight. “I’m sure (she’s) big,” Ryan joked. … WR Eric Decker didn’t practice because of a quadriceps injury after previously dealing with foot and hamstring ailments. … RB Chris Ivory sat out after injuring his ribs against the Colts. “Doing much better,” Ryan said. “He’s going to be fine.” … Other injuries: LB Tim Fugger left practice with a hyperextended knee, CB Jeremy Reeves (groin) sat out and WR Greg Salas (hip) was limited. … Ryan said he has been impressed with rookie CB Dexter McDougle, whom the coach said reported to camp a bit overweight. “He works his butt off,” Ryan said. “We’ve just got to get him down a little bit more.”

___

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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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