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Suh poses challenge for Giants’ offensive line

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Ndamukong Suh’s first game this season will be against an injury-plagued offensive line.

Not that the Detroit star needs any extra advantages.

“I’m going to treat this team just like any other team,” Suh said. “I just expect to have success against them, understand what they do and understand their weaknesses and what their strengths are and try to get them out of their strengths and exploit their weaknesses.”

Suh and the Lions host the New York Giants on Monday night, and in many ways his contract situation underscores the amount of pressure Detroit is under. This is the final year of his deal, so this may be Detroit’s last chance to reach its full potential while he is still on the roster.

The Giants lost guard Geoff Schwartz to a dislocated toe, and offensive linemen James Brewer (back), Charles Brown (shoulder) and Brandon Mosley (back) have been limited.

New York quarterback Eli Manning was sacked 39 times last season. The Lions got to him twice when the Giants beat Detroit in December, with Nick Fairley and Ziggy Ansah contributing those sacks.

“Suh is the guy who sticks out to most people but he’s not the only guy we are concerned about,” Giants guard John Jerry said. “They have a great front four. They’ve got guys who can stop the run and rush the passer, so we’re definitely going to have to be on top of our game.”

Suh made an impact immediately when the Lions drafted him in 2010. He has 27 1/2 sacks in four seasons, but Detroit was not able to sign him to a long-term deal this year. That adds at least a bit more urgency to 2014.

The Lions collapsed toward the end of last season, wasting a great chance to make the playoffs, and coach Jim Schwartz was fired. Jim Caldwell took over, and Detroit still has an impressive core of talent that includes Suh, Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford.

That group has never won a playoff game with Detroit — and has made the postseason only once. Suh is eager to return to the playoffs.

“I don’t necessarily know that I have goals other than winning and going to the playoffs, and having this defensive line be an exceptional one,” Suh said. “We obviously love to get after the quarterback and make big plays, game-changing plays. Sacks without question are huge in our room.”

That’s especially true because Detroit’s secondary remains a concern. If Manning has time to throw, it could be a long night for the Lions.

The Giants also missed the playoffs last season. Instead of fading down the stretch, they started 0-6, making a postseason appearance almost impossible.

Manning threw a career-high 27 interceptions, and New York didn’t run the ball very effectively, its backfield plagued by injuries. The blocking will be crucial to improving in both those areas.

“It comes down to the offensive line,” tackle Justin Pugh said. “We have to come out with the right mentality, be aggressive and physical, and we have to run the ball. That’s our job and we have to get it done.”

Suh will be there, trying to prevent that.

“Every time you step on the football field is an opportunity to make a play, no matter who it’s going against,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’ve always kind of seen it as a defensive lineman, they have to block me, and I don’t have to block them. I have to go out there and stop that quarterback and that running back. More or less, they’re the ones who have to stop me from doing what I want to do.”

___

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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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