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Two-QBs system possibility for Browns

By WTOP Staff

STEVE DiMATTEO
Associated Press

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — There are advantages to playing two quarterbacks in the NFL. Just ask Browns safety Donte Whitner, who saw it work on one of his former teams.

With Johnny Manziel serving as Cleveland’s backup quarterback to Brian Hoyer, coach Mike Pettine has hinted at developing an offensive package for the rookie first-round pick. The idea is not unlike what San Francisco did in 2012 before Colin Kaepernick eventually became the starter while Alex Smith was injured, leading the team to the Super Bowl.

Whitner was on the 49ers at the time and said that even if the package isn’t used much in a game, simply making sure an opposing team has to prepare for two QBs can offer an advantage.

“With those words alone, they have to prepare,” Whitner said. “They have to prepare for the option, they have to prepare for the read play and all of that. You’re supposed to make them prepare for things even if you’re not going to see it.”

The extra work can lead to mistakes on other plays, Whitner said.

“Now you have to teach those defensive ends and those outside linebackers to slow down, to slow play certain things,” he said. “We just want to make them take some time off of something else. Might mess up on something else on the offense by having to worry about the read option and Johnny being back there and being a mobile quarterback.”

Pettine was the defensive coordinator for the Jets when they played the 49ers during that 2012 season. New York spent time preparing for Kaepernick and Smith before ultimately losing that game 34-0. Kaepernick threw one incomplete pass, but rushed for 50 yards and a score.

“It does have a big effect on your prep time,” Pettine said. “And the hard part of it is you might only get a handful of plays from the other quarterback, but just the amount of time it takes to (prepare), because if you don’t prepare for it, you have a chance to look very unprepared and give up some big plays.”

Of course, a two-quarterback system requires its own amount of prep time for the team actually running the scheme, a fact not lost on Pettine.

“There is that positive to it, that you’re forcing prep time,” he said. “But the negative is that you’re affecting your own continuity.”

Cleveland’s offense struggled in a 33-14 preseason loss to St. Louis on Saturday night. Hoyer completed 10 of 16 passes for 84 yards, but he also threw an ugly interception into traffic and fumbled on a strip-sack.

While Manziel is promising to do whatever is asked of him, Hoyer is trying to develop some continuity with the starters in preparation for the Sept. 7 season opener at Pittsburgh.

“Our problems aren’t from lack of timing or anything like that. It’s just consistency and going out there and doing it,” Hoyer said. “I think the most frustrating part to us is that we do some things really well and then we shoot ourselves in the foot.”

NOTES: The Browns placed OL Nick McDonald on the reserve/non-football injury list, putting their roster at 75 players. … WR Josh Gordon continued to practice while he waits to hear from the NFL regarding his appeal of a possible yearlong suspension for again violating the league’s substance-abuse program. . TE Jordan Cameron returned to practice after being excused Monday. . CB Joe Haden (foot) remained out. … The Browns placed OL Michael Bowie and LB Darius Eubanks on injured reserve. Both underwent shoulder surgeries earlier this month. . LB Chris Kirksey was voted by reporters as the winner of the Maurice Bassett Award, given to the best rookie in training camp.

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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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