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Rams confident offense is still in good hands

By WTOP Staff

R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The last time Shaun Hill got extensive playing time was in 2010, when Matthew Stafford went down in the Detroit Lions’ opener. The veteran quarterback is set to replace another high-profile starter, stepping in for Sam Bradford with the St. Louis Rams.

Predictions of a breakthrough season took a serious hit when Bradford tore his left ACL for the second time in nine months in the third preseason game at Cleveland. One betting service, Bovada, knocked down the over-under on total wins from 7.5 to 6.5.

Since the injury, coach Jeff Fisher has projected total confidence in the 34-year-old Hill, who threw just 16 passes the previous three years in Detroit and none at all last year, running the offense for the long haul.

Whether he’ll be holding a clipboard or barking out signals, Hill always gets ready to start.

“I’ve said this plenty of times, but I’ve always kind of tried to take that same mindset as if I was going to be playing,” Hill said after practice Wednesday. “That’s the only way I know how to prepare.”

The shock of losing Bradford again, Fisher said, lasted just a few days.

“There’s nothing Sam was doing,” Fisher said, “that Shaun can’t do. We’ve committed to Shaun for the year.”

Hill and the rest of the starters were held out of the preseason finale after five starters were injured in Week 3. Of the four others, only cornerback Trumaine Johnson remains sidelined, likely out the first month with a knee injury.

The Rams claimed another quarterback with starting experience, Case Keenum, on waivers from the Texans this week. Austin Davis remains the backup, while Keenum takes a crash course on a new playbook.

“It’s like speaking a different language,” Keenum said. “I’m trying to learn another language as fast as I can.”

Hill’s arm is not as strong as Bradford’s, but he’s not worried about style points heading into Sunday’s opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Like Minnesota’s Matt Cassel, Hill has built a pretty nice career after entering the NFL as a fringe prospect.

“He gets it where it’s supposed to be so we can make plays,” wide receiver Kenny Britt said. “As wide receivers, our job is to make the quarterback look good.

“I’m excited about what we’re doing with this offense.”

Cassel was seventh-round pick and Hill was undrafted out of Maryland, beginning his career in Minnesota in 2002. Hill didn’t play at all his first three seasons and made his debut in the 2005 finale, kneeling down to kill the clock in a victory over the Bears, and made his first career start in 2007.

“You’ve got a bond right there, staying in the league for a while,” Cassel said. “I wish him nothing but success, except for when he plays us.”

Hill is set for his second career opening start, and first since ’09 with the 49ers.

“It’s a matter of reps. He’s taken all the reps since we got back from Cleveland and so he’s got a good feel,” Fisher said. “He’s got a good feel for what he’s doing.”

The Rams were going to be run-first before Bradford was hurt with the trio of Zac Stacy, Benny Cunningham and rookie Tre Mason so they’re not as likely to dump it all on Hill’s shoulders.

Drafting Greg Robinson No. 2 overall and re-signing guard Rodger Saffold to a free-agent deal fortified the line. Robinson has perhaps been held back by learning guard and tackle in training camp and won’t start in the opener with Saffold getting the call at left guard and Davin Joseph at right guard.

“We made the decision that in the opener we’re better off going with experience,” Fisher said. “He’s going to be an outstanding player.

“Our focus right now is putting the guys on the field that we think gives us our best chance to win right now.”

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AP Sports Writer Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

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Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and 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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