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New playmakers set to spice up Jets’ offense

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The wish list for the New York Jets’ offense was simple, yet ambitious.

Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s group finished 25th overall last season, including second-to-last in passing yards. So, playmakers — real difference makers — were needed, and general manager John Idzik went shopping during the offseason.

— No. 1-type wide receiver. Check: Eric Decker.

— Speedy, electrifying running back. Check: Chris Johnson.

— Exciting young tight end capable of creating mismatches. Check: Jace Amaro.

Now, all three are ready to make their regular-season debuts for the Jets on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

“Going into this week, we sure are asking a lot of new players,” Mornhinweg said Thursday. “That’s a challenge there for those players. We are also asking a lot of new players, young players and quite possibly even a couple of rookies. Our preparation is so important there.”

“It’s a great challenge, an exciting challenge every year,” he said.

Heading into his second season as the Jets’ offensive coordinator, Mornhinweg has a lot more to work with this year. While Idzik has been criticized by some for not better addressing the defense, specifically the cornerbacks, he added some spice on offense.

“I feel better about our receiving corps right now than at any time last year,” coach Rex Ryan said. “I think, obviously, that’s easy to say. We added Eric Decker. That’s a big get.”

Sure is, even if some argue that he’s not a true No. 1 wide receiver, say, in the mold of Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall or Dez Bryant. Decker had two huge years in Denver with Peyton Manning throwing him passes, so expectations might need to be tempered a bit from those 85-catch, 1,000-yard seasons.

Still, Decker is this for quarterback Geno Smith: a guy he’ll be able to look for — and trust — down the field. Every game. Every play.

“That’s my main objective: Get the ball into the hands of the right guy,” Smith said. “We’ve got a bunch of guys that can go the distance and can do some great things. So, my job is to get them the ball and see what they can do.”

Decker and Jeremy Kerley are the most experienced of the Jets’ wide receivers, a group that includes veteran David Nelson, Greg Salas, Saalim Hakim and rookies Jalen Saunders and Walt Powell.

“I think our relationship with Geno as a whole has been good,” Decker said. “We’ve been clicking. We’ve been progressing and getting better. I’m excited, really, to have an opportunity now to play some other teams and let that work speak for itself.”

Johnson is coming off a subpar season in Tennessee during which he ran for 1,077 yards, averaging a career-low 3.9 yards per carry. Most of that was done while playing on a balky knee that required offseason surgery.

He’s feeling good these days, looking as fast and elusive as ever. Maybe he won’t be the guy who ran for 2,006 yards in 2009, but he’ll give Smith a safety valve out of the backfield as a receiver, as well as a back who can break a long run on any handoff. And, he’s still confident he can make game-changing plays.

“Of course,” he said. “I have been my whole career. I’ve never stopped.”

Johnson will team with Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell to form perhaps the NFL’s most dangerous trio of running backs. Johnson’s speed combined with Ivory’s physical style and Powell’s versatility will keep Mornhinweg busy getting them all on the field.

“All of them will help us throughout the year,” he said, “with that old-school mentality of, ‘We don’t care how we get it done, who scores, who gets the credit,’ all those things. And then, those type of things work.”

Amaro was a second-round pick out of Texas Tech, where he was more of a receiver than a tight end. Because he needed to improve his blocking skills on the line while learning the Jets’ offense, it took a while for Amaro to feel comfortable.

There were drops, lapses in concentration and concerns by some whether he’d be a good fit. Not anymore. Since starting the second preseason game against Cincinnati, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Amaro has improved dramatically — someone Smith might be able to count on across the middle who causes nightmares for linebackers trying to keep up.

“I think it was more a confidence thing,” Amaro said. “Overall, I’m feeling comfortable with the system, and I can’t really remember the last practice or anything that I had trouble with a couple of drops or anything like that. I feel really smooth out there. I feel good.”

So do the Jets, when it comes to their offense. The three new playmakers could help them become an even more-explosive and consistent offense. Just as they ordered up in the offseason.

“Those big plays come naturally,” Mornhinweg said. “It’s just our philosophy. We don’t rely on the big plays — but we expect them.”

___

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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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