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Steelers rookie LB Shazier sparkles in NFL debut

By WTOP Staff

WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ryan Shazier let Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler sprint by him before the rookie Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker gave chase.

The moment Chandler appeared to be open down the seam, EJ Manuel lofted a pretty spiral in Chandler’s direction.

It looked like the right decision. It wasn’t.

Shazier needed all of two steps to close the gap on Chandler. One well-timed leap and the 15th pick in May’s draft had the ball in his hands. By the time he was finally tackled more than 25 yards downfield, the Steelers were in Buffalo territory — and any concerns about Shazier’s banged-up right knee were long forgotten.

So much for that “boo boo” coach Mike Tomlin kept talking about.

In the span of a precocious half during Pittsburgh’s 19-16 win Saturday night, Shazier did more than make up for the week he lost while nursing his knee back to health. He offered proof he’s ready to handle his role in what the Steelers hope is a defensive revival in 2014.

Shazier’s first game in an NFL uniform included 11 tackles, his graceful interception and a post-play collision that accidentally sent Buffalo rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins to the trainer’s room with bruised ribs.

“I think it’s a great confidence booster,” Steelers safety Troy Polamalu said.

While Tomlin tried to tamp down any concerns about Shazier’s knee, the former Ohio State star concedes he was more than a little concerned after he felt a twinge while tackling teammate Le’Veon Bell during practice earlier this month.

“But everything happens for a reason,” Shazier said.

Shazier missed Pittsburgh’s preseason opener against the New York Giants and wasn’t cleared for full contact until 48 hours before facing the Bills. As impressive as he was Saturday, he insists he’s still not quite himself.

“I just got back to practice two days ago,” he said. “I don’t feel you can be 100 percent with that amount of practice.”

Consider it a warning. Lining up alongside Lawrence Timmons, Shazier was as relentless as advertised. Racing sideline to sideline — often blowing by Timmons on his way to the ball — Shazier’s No. 50 was a black and gold blur at times.

On Buffalo’s second play from scrimmage, he tackled running back Fred Jackson. On the next down, he pulled Chandler to the turf. A little while later, he chased Manuel out of bounds after a short gain.

It was just the beginning. On special teams, Shazier smashed into kick returner T.J. Graham short of the Bills 20. The ensuing drive ended with Shazier’s interception, and on the next kickoff, Shazier dragged Graham to the turf yet again.

The first quarter wasn’t even over. So much for jitters.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they were testing me,” Shazier said. “But I did what I had to do.”

Still, he wasn’t quite perfect. Shazier slipped trying to tackle Chandler near midfield early in the second quarter. Chandler picked up 24 yards on the third-and-27 from the Pittsburgh 35, giving kicker Dan Carpenter enough room for a 53-yard field goal.

It’s that play perhaps more than the others that will stick with Shazier.

“I feel like you have to check yourself every day,” he said. “The game will humble you.”

Just in case it doesn’t, Shazier’s teammates will fill the void for a franchise that considers defensive excellence a requirement. As easy as he made it look at times, he is well aware he’s just one very raw cog in a machine that’s looking to return to form after a subpar 2013.

“I feel like it was still a difficult defense, still a lot of complicated things in it,” Shazier said. “But I feel like I have a lot of great guys around me, helping me learn.”

The education will continue Thursday when the Steelers travel across the state to face Philadelphia. An encore might be difficult. That’s fine. Even at age 21, he understands games like the one he enjoyed Saturday don’t come around often.

“One week I might have 11 tackles; one week I might have five,” he said. “I’m just doing whatever they want me to do.”

___

AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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