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Falcons QB Ryan blames himself for inconsistencies

By WTOP Staff

GEORGE HENRY
Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — It looked like 2013 all over again for the Atlanta Falcons’ offense last week.

Matt Ryan spent most of the game with the pocket collapsing quickly around him and nobody open downfield.

Even so, the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback is blaming himself for many of the problems that made Atlanta, which looked so promising the week before in a season-opening win over New Orleans, fall apart at Cincinnati.

With just two days of full practice this week, Ryan says the Falcons (1-1) have abundant mistakes to correct before Tampa Bay (0-2) visits the Georgia Dome on Thursday night.

“One of the things we’ve seen is that when we’re capable of making some explosive plays one week, the following week we’re not,” Ryan said Tuesday. “We’ve got to get to a point where week in and week out we play the way we’re capable of.”

Even with star receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White on the field nearly four full quarters, the Falcons averaged just 4.6 yards on 44 passing attempts in a lopsided loss to the Bengals.

Ryan had little time to set his feet as Cincinnati brought pressure the entire game without having to rely on zone coverage in the secondary.

There were few chances for Ryan to throw deep, and Atlanta’s shorter routes were heavily contested. Ryan threw three interceptions, was hit nine times and sacked twice.

He says the picks were his fault.

“Any way you slice it, you can’t do that and expect to win,” Ryan said. “I’ve got to be better than that.”

Last year’s problems have been well documented. The Falcons finished a 4-12 season with the league’s worst rushing attack. Ryan suffered a career-high 44 sacks and pressured 203 times, most in the NFL.

Atlanta could catch a break this week in matching up against Tampa Bay’s cover-2 defensive scheme.

The Buccaneers will be without middle linebacker Mason Foster, who’s sidelined by a dislocated shoulder, and could be without Gerald McCoy as the All-Pro defensive tackle nurses a broken left hand.

Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith has said that McCoy might suit up with a cast, but that decision might not be made until game time. Defensive end Michael Johnson, who missed last week’s 19-17 home loss to St. Louis with a sprained ankle, has been limited in practice the last two days.

“We’re going to prepare for those guys to play,” Ryan said. “I think that’s the way we’ve done it around here and then adjust on Thursday night if something happens differently.”

The Falcons could get a boost with the return of rookie left tackle Jake Matthews from a sprained left ankle. Matthews, the league’s sixth overall draft pick, has fully participated in practice the last two day after missing the Bengals game.

Matthews’ return means that Gabe Carimi will likely move back to start at right tackle as Lamar Holmes, who struggled badly against Cincinnati, returns to the bench.

Starting receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones are expected to be at full strength, too. White was given the last two days off to rest a sore hamstring. Jones, coming off right foot surgery that ended his season after five games last year, participated fully in practice Tuesday after being limited the day before with a sore right ankle.

Ryan has been pleased with a return to respectability for the running game, which is tied for sixth in the league with an average of 5 yards per carry.

“I think we need to continue to be efficient in the run game,” Ryan said. “In terms of the pass game, we just need to be more consistent.”

With Ryan having won five of six against Tampa Bay and owning an 8-4 career record against the NFC South rival, Atlanta coach Mike Smith likes his team’s chances.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that Matt is going to bounce back,” Smith said. “I know we’ve got to take care of the football. That’s the most important thing.”

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Online:

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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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