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49ers offensive line looks to regroup quickly

By WTOP Staff

JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers rookie center Marcus Martin suffered a left knee injury that isn’t considered season-ending, yet still a blow to the depth of a struggling offensive line.

The third-round draft pick was carted off the field with 11:18 remaining during a 21-7 preseason victory Sunday against San Diego.

“He had an MRI this morning and, can’t go into all of the details because I don’t know them all, but it doesn’t appear that it’s an ACL,” coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday. “I don’t want to put a timeline on it right now.”

Asked whether Martin could return sometime in 2014, Harbaugh said: “It appears that way, yes. We’ll just hold off on any definitive comments.”

Martin already dealt with an ankle injury that sidelined him early in training camp. The 70th overall pick out of Southern California, Martin played 38 games — with 33 starts — over three seasons with the Trojans.

The 49ers are looking to make some quick adjustments on their struggling offensive line, which showed its vulnerabilities in pass protection as quarterback Colin Kaepernick took several hard hits and was constantly pressured Sunday.

Harbaugh again declined to speak about holdout right guard Alex Boone, who would be a big help but is still away from the team while seeking a new contract with two years remaining on his previous deal. He might have gained some leverage with Sunday’s game.

The 49ers have a quick turnaround for Thursday night’s preseason finale at Houston to get things right on the offensive line.

“Just continuing to get reps, get reps at the looks that we’re going to see,” Harbaugh said. “In a preseason game where it’s going to be a short week that’ll be difficult to do, but we’ll attack that.”

Fourth-year pro Daniel Kilgore is gearing up for his first season as starting center. Harbaugh praised him Monday for not missing a call.

For years, Kilgore has been among the first players on the field for game day warmups going through his extensive routine to prepare for this opportunity.

“He’s a very athletic center, good combination of strength and quickness,” Harbaugh said. “He’s got a quick mind. He’s done a very good job with making the calls and understanding the system. And he’s on a streak of not missing a call now for . I can’t remember the last time he missed a call. It’s been good. We’re very pleased. Knock on wood. He’s continuing to get those reps and take care of his business.”

Kilgore figures more emphasis on technique this week and some other slight adjustments from everybody will have the O-line on the same page and doing a better job giving Kaepernick enough time to do this thing — without going to the ground as often.

There has already been learning from the game film, Kilgore said. He appreciates the confidence from Harbaugh, too.

“I take it as a compliment. If you make a mistake out there or if I miss calls, you have a tendency to forget them and move on,” Kilgore said. “This is four years I’ve been with this offense. I’m ready to go.”

Harbaugh said wide receiver Stevie Johnson is likely to make the final 53-man roster announced Saturday.

“Stevie’s done an outstanding job,” Harbaugh said. “I feel very good about him being on the 53-man roster, yes.”

The 49ers on Monday removed the temporary sod from Sunday’s game to make modifications to the base — soil and sand — and create a better root system that should hold for much of the remainder of the season and only require replacing on an on-need basis. The new sod will go down by the weekend to have a full week to set in before a soccer match between Chile and Mexico on Sept. 6.

“They’re starting over,” punter Andy Lee said. “I’m sure it will be great. I’m not worried.”

NOTES: In Monday’s roster moves, San Francisco waived QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, S D.J. Campbell, TE Kevin Greene, RB Jewel Hampton, P Colton Schmidt, LB Kion Wilson and WRs Devon Wylie and David Reed. The 49ers placed RB Marcus Lattimore, FB Trey Millard, CB Keith Reaser and G Brandon Thomas on the reserve/non-football Injury list. LB NaVorro Bowman, TE Garrett Celek and DT Kaleb Ramsey were placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and LB Blake Costanzo was released from the injured reserve list.

___

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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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