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Giants defense to be tested by Megatron and Lions

By WTOP Staff

TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Since the opening of training camp, the New York Giants have been boasting that their defense has the potential to be one of the NFL’s best.

Safety Antrel Rolle and Co. are going to get a chance prove it Monday when they face the Detroit Lions in the regular-season opener.

The Lions are loaded on offense, starting with Calvin Johnson, arguably the league’s top wide receiver. Quarterback Matthew Stafford also has former Seahawk Golden Tate as a target on the outside along with a trio of tight ends, led by Brandon Pettigrew. Out of the backfield, running backs Reggie Bush and Joique Bell are threats both rushing and receiving.

What makes this test even bigger is that the Giants’ new offense struggled in the preseason and needs help.

“The ball is in our court,” Rolle said Thursday. “We just have to go out there and play team ball. We can talk about it all we want to, but unless we go out there and display it, talking means nothing.”

The big question mark on the defense is the line, which lost end and captain Justin Tuck and tackle Linval Joseph to free agency. It has gotten a seemingly healthy Jason Pierre-Paul back.

The linebackers and secondary are solid, with the defensive backs being the strength of coordinator Perry Fewell’s group.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who was signed as a free agent, has the ability to be a shut-down cornerback, and running mate Prince Amukamara has been getting better each season. Add in free agent cornerbacks Walter Thurmond and Zack Bowman along with safeties Stevie Brown and Will Demps, and the secondary has the potential to blanket receivers.

“It is going to be a great test for us,” said Brown, who is starting at free safety after missing last season with a knee injury. “They are a great offense. If we go out there and we do what we are supposed to do and do what we are capable of, with everybody on the same page and flying around, we can make a statement on Monday night.”

The Giants beat the Lions 23-20 in overtime in December, but that game means little since Detroit has changed significantly under new coach Jim Caldwell.

“He came in and set his standards from the get-go,” said Johnson, who played with a nagging knee injury last season and was limited to three catches for 43 yards by New York. “He’s a disciplinarian, he preaches to us about ways that, one: We beat ourselves in the past; and trying to prevent those things in the future.”

The Giants usually don’t assign their cornerbacks to cover one receiver, so Johnson should get a run at several different defenders.

“They’ve got a mixed group. I’ve played against most of them, for the most part, at least the outside guys in Cromartie and Prince,” Johnson said. “Both of them have pretty good ball skills. Cromartie is a very shifty guy, a very long guy. Prince likes to get his hands on you, it seems like, early in the play.”

The Lions can use Johnson in the slot, which would put him against Thurmond, Tate’s teammate with the Super Bowl champions in Seattle.

“I think we have enough talent out here,” Thurmond said. “We’ve been playing our defenses that we’ve been playing the whole preseason and everything like that. We’re just going to go out there and compete, make it difficult, let the front four do what they do and get after the quarterback and put some pressure on Matt Stafford and really stop the run. Those are our main priorities this game.”

NOTES: OL Adam Snyder, who was signed by the Giants Wednesday, practiced Thursday and says he will be ready for the opener if needed. He has played in eight offenses in his 10-year career and said he can adjust. … First-round draft pick WR Odell Beckham (hamstring), OT James Brewer (back) and DT Markus Kuhn (ankle) did not practice. LB Jon Beason (foot), OT Charles Brown (shoulder) and G Brandon Mosley (back) were limited. Veteran lineman John Jerry took Mosley’s snaps with the first team when needed. … Coach Tom Coughlin plans to simulate crowd noise at practice to prepare the team for what is expected to be a loud environment at Ford Field.

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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