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After a scandalous 2013, Dolphins looking forward

By WTOP Staff

TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Joe Philbin was not overly pleased following a recent preseason game, the coach of the Miami Dolphins somewhat befuddled with how his first-string offense moved the ball well but failed to find the end zone.

It’s a problem, which is the bad news.

The good news is, it’s a football problem — nothing at all like the issues that sunk the Dolphins a year ago.

There’s been no whiff of real scandal around the Dolphins entering this season, which right there suggests the 2014 edition of the team is ahead of last year’s group.

The Dolphins became headline-makers for all the wrong reasons a year ago when a locker-room bullying mess turned into the storyline of the season, and the stigma of all that is something Miami cannot escape from quickly enough.

“You can have all the potential,” Dolphins defensive lineman Jared Odrick said. “But if you’re not putting it to use, there’s no reason to have it.”

And there may be the most accurate mantra for the 2014 Dolphins.

Potential isn’t in question, and the anticipation over what changes new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor will install this season is one of the biggest sources of optimism around the club. The defense could easily be better as well, so it would seem the pieces are in place for Miami to end a playoff drought that goes back to 2008.

“It’s a good group of men,” Philbin said. “It’s a high-character group. I’m excited about what they’re going to be able to accomplish.”

Turning around the locker room atmosphere, that’s one thing.

Turning around fortunes, that’s something else. Over the past 10 seasons, only five of the NFL’s 32 clubs have fewer wins than the Dolphins.

“I think everybody really believes we can make the playoffs this year,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said. “There’s a lot of positive energy right now.”

Here’s some things to watch about the Dolphins:

TANNEHILL AND WALLACE: Quarterback Ryan Tannehill and wide receiver Mike Wallace hooked up for pass plays of more than 40 yards only four times last season, two of those coming in the same game. The team’s quarterback and best receiver just haven’t seemed to totally click yet in the deep game and both want to see that change. On average, Tannehill’s completions to Wallace went for 8.8 yards last season, with Wallace picking up another 3.9 yards after the catch.

NEED FOR BALANCE: The Dolphins picked up 61 first downs on rushes last season, the lowest total in the NFL, and they got a combined six touchdowns from running backs Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas. Adding Knowshon Moreno obviously should help, and Miller continues to evolve into a solid NFL player. But if all the scoring pressure is on the passing game, the Dolphins could struggle. Another pressure point: The Dolphins have had four kickers in camp during the preseason, all because incumbent Caleb Sturgis isn’t healthy.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Miami’s defensive front — likely some combination of Cameron Wake, Earl Mitchell, Randy Starks, Jared Odrick and Olivier Vernon to start the season — could be one of the best in the NFL, even with Dion Jordan suspended for the season’s first four games. Miami gave up a respectable average of 4.1 yards per carry last season, a figure the Dolphins would like to improve upon nonetheless and better linebacker play should help that cause.

PHILBIN WATCH: More than half the league — 17 of 32 teams — have made the playoffs in the past two seasons, with the Dolphins not among them. So this would figure to be a critical year for Philbin both in terms of the win-loss record and whether the Dolphins have another circuslike mess like they dealt with a year ago. It might not be playoffs-or-bust, but if the Dolphins struggle, Philbin’s seat will get toasty.

SPEAKING OF PLAYOFFS: Since Miami’s last playoff win — Dec. 30, 2000 — only three other teams (Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo) have played in fewer postseason games than Miami. And since Miami’s last Super Bowl appearance, 24 franchises have made at least one trip to football’s biggest game, the Patriots alone doing so seven times.

___

Online:

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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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