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Seattle’s opener a chance to start evaluations

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Between the penalties and an offense that staggered, Pete Carroll had to settle for being able to make some evaluations after the Seattle Seahawks’ preseason opener.

“We got in our own way a lot,” Carroll said Sunday as the Seahawks returned to practice. “A lot of penalties, a lot of problems getting any kind of continuity moving the football. … We saw a lot of stuff. It was a great evaluation tool for us.”

Seattle was called for 13 penalties and its offense struggled at times in a 21-16 loss to Denver on Thursday night. The biggest area of concern going into and coming out of the opener was the play of offensive line. The Seahawks played only one regular starter — guard J.R. Sweezy — while using a group of backups to try and protect quarterback Russell Wilson.

The results were mixed at best. Wilson was sacked twice and forced to scramble a handful of times. While three of the linemen who played are expected to be reserves, there was particular attention paid to rookie Justin Britt getting the start at right tackle. With Seattle choosing to release Michael Bowie at the beginning of the month, the expectation is either Britt or veteran Eric Winston will end up as Seattle’s right tackle to begin the season.

“They were a really good defense, a really good challenge and a good first test,” Britt said. “With the delay and everything I think I will remember my first time on an NFL field.”

Britt felt his technique — staying lower in both run blocking and pass protection — could have been better. Carroll was complimentary of how Britt played aside from a communication mistake with guard Stephen Schilling that led to Wilson taking a big hit.

“I knew my assignments. I didn’t have a lot of mental errors. I knew who I was going to, I knew how to block them,” Britt said. “I’m sure every lineman tells you technique is important and it is extremely important in this league. Your technique has to be on point every time you go to block a guy.”

Figuring out right tackle is the top priority for Seattle’s offense over the final three preseason games. But not far behind is figuring out how the rest of the offensive line reserves will shake out. Seattle’s offensive line depth was tested last season with Sweezy and now departed guard Paul McQuistan the only two linemen to make at least 14 starts.

Versatility is important and that’s why guard Stephen Schilling spent time during Sunday’s practice working at center. Schilling took the most snaps of any Seattle player in Thursday’s game.

“He does a nice job under center and we like him there. He played pretty well at right guard too,” Carroll said. “That flexibility is really valuable to a guy trying to make the team. It’s helping his cause.”

The only major injury to come out of the preseason opener was cornerback A.J. Jefferson, who suffered a substantial left ankle sprain after intercepting a pass in the second half. Carroll had no time frame but said Jefferson would be out for a while.

Jefferson was in contention for a reserve spot in Seattle’s secondary.

NOTES: RB Marshawn Lynch had his most extensive work of training camp on Sunday. Carroll said Lynch “has a chance to compete” this week, which could lead to a very limited appearance in Friday night’s preseason game against San Diego … G James Carpenter (calf) was a full participant in practice after being slowed last week. C Max Unger (groin) is expected to increase his practice time later this week, Carroll said. … Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith (ankle surgery) is ahead of LB Bobby Wagner (hamstring) in getting back on the field, but both are expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, Carroll said. Wagner injured his hamstring early in camp, while Smith has been a spectator so far recovering from surgery. … Seattle re-signed CB Trey Wolfe and waived/injured LB Mike Taylor. Wolfe was with the team for one day last week before being cut.

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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