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Cutler sees calm in Bears huddle as season arrives

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Jay Cutler can sense a different vibe, a calm in the huddle as the Chicago Bears enter their second season under coach Marc Trestman.

An offense that put up big numbers is back intact and expectations are high heading into this weekend’s opener. The Bears host the Buffalo Bills in what they hope is the start of a run to the playoffs after missing out for the sixth time in seven years last season at 8-8.

“We’ve got to make sure that we stay focused and treat every day like it’s the first day,” Cutler said. “But there’s definitely a calmness, I think, in our huddle, knowing we’ve been through a lot of situations. We’ve worked together. Everyone has a good feel. We all enjoy playing together.”

This is supposed to be the season where Cutler is finally free of obstacles after getting tripped up too often.

That was the thinking when camp started, at least. There are some concerns after the defense and special teams struggled in the preseason, but now is when it all starts to count.

In his first five seasons in Chicago, something always seemed to get in Cutler’s way. He clashed with offensive coordinators or got flattened behind a weak offensive line. He lacked a go-to receiver. He made poor decisions.

The defense struggled, too, especially last year. The Bears tried to address that in the offseason, bringing in defensive end Jared Allen as part of a major overhaul.

Cutler’s ability to stay healthy remains an issue, considering he hasn’t played a full 16 games since 2009. But he has the system and help he needs, with star receivers in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery and an elite running back in Matt Forte.

All 11 starters are back from an offense that jumped from 29th to fifth in passing and 28th to No. 8 in total offense last season, the first under Trestman.

While Cutler only appeared in 11 games, he played well. His passer rating was a personal-best 89.2, and his completion percentage (63.1) was just shy of a career high.

That was enough for the Bears to give Cutler a seven-year contract even though he’s now 31.

“When you watched Josh (McCown) play last year, can you say he really looked like a 35-year-old quarterback?” Trestman said. “I don’t think any of us would say that. I didn’t coach Steve Young at 29, but he didn’t start until he was 29. (Rich) Gannon was getting started at 33. I think each quarterback’s on his own journey, their development and where they are as part of the game is determined by the teams they’re with, the coaches they’re with, the quarterbacks they’re playing behind. I think they’re all independent of each other, and it’s how a quarterback takes care of his body, the kind of condition he’s in.”

He said Cutler is in “tremendous” condition and doesn’t appear to be slowing down. He sees a quarterback who’s familiar with the system and able to make quick decisions. Offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer mentions the consistency in Cutler’s technique, his footwork and precision with his throws.

He said that Cutler has more time to think when he drops back in part because he’s more familiar with the system than he was a year ago.

It’s a system that fit him well last season, and fit the Bears well.

Now, can they match what they did a year ago? Better yet, can they top it? And can the Bears achieve their goal?

Kromer has been around good offenses. He was the line coach in New Orleans in 2009 when the Saints led the league in total offense on their way to the championship.

“You ask any Super Bowl champion team — they didn’t have injuries, they made plays at times when you didn’t feel like the play could be made and it was made and you played through some things,” Kromer said. “I don’t know any time in the season that it’s going to happen. As you go you keep jelling and you keep having success because you’re working together well.”

NOTES: S Chris Conte was medically cleared and went through a full practice Thursday after suffering a concussion in the third preseason game against Seattle. Trestman said Conte will play Sunday and that the Bears will decide after Friday’s practice if he will start. Conte also missed the start of training camp and first two preseason games while recovering from shoulder surgery.

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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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