Skip to main content

Buckeyes gearing up for UC’s lethal passing attack

By WTOP Staff

RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Urban Meyer flipped on the TV last Friday night to watch his alma mater in action.

What he saw when Cincinnati hosted Toledo, however, blew him away.

“I was kind of like probably most of the country, like, ‘Whoa!'” Meyer, said of the aerial attack produced by quarterback Gunner Kiel and the Bearcats in what would turn out to be a 58-34 win over Toledo. “I thought it was going to be a 60-0 (game) and the kid was going to throw for 500 yards. They’re really good.”

No wonder the 23rd-ranked Buckeyes aren’t exactly lounging around despite a bye this week. They’re in full preparation mode for what they’ll face when they entertain Cincinnati on Sept. 27 at Ohio Stadium.

This game is why Meyer tore apart his pass defense.

In the wake of two losses to end last season in which opponents threw at will while scoring more than 35 points each, Meyer hired new co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash and had him rebuild the way the Buckeyes defend against the pass.

There’s been no opportunity to see it so far in the Buckeyes’ two wins. And everybody on the roster played so poorly in the 35-21 loss to Virginia Tech in Week Two that it was hard to pin the blame on just one unit.

But now the Buckeyes will truly be unveiling their new defense against the pass.

“Oh, it’s going to be a test,” linebacker Darron Lee said. “What people will see is that our pass defense has come full circle. I wouldn’t say (it’s) a final exam because you’ve still got the rest of the season to go. But I’d say it’s the first big test.”

Ash saw the cushion the cornerbacks gave to the wide-outs for Michigan State in the Big Ten title game and to Clemson in the Orange Bowl. For the past nine months the Buckeyes have worked on press coverage — the corners going man-to-man with the wide-outs.

Now that new philosophy runs face first into a pass-happy Cincinnati attack. Kiel completed 25 of 37 passes for 418 yards and six TDs in the win over Toledo. The Bearcats don’t have this week off; they are heavy favorites at home against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday.

“We know that they’re going to try and sling the rock on us,” safety Tyvis Powell said. “That’s why all week we’ve been focusing on pass defense, putting in new coverages and stuff like that.”

Meyer, a Cincinnati grad in the class of1986, knows his team’s newly configured defense must be on high alert. He concedes that the Bearcats’ strength has been a weakness for the Buckeyes.

“Pass defense is going to be the call to arms,” he said. “This is much different (than a typical) bye week. It’s not like Week 8 where you’ve got fatigue issues and all of that. We have to be smart how we handle our business, but this is all about preparing for UC.”

The Buckeyes say they’re excited to see how their new approach matches up.

“For the secondary, this is big. Because this is the best quarterback with the best wide-receiver group we’re going to see all season,” Powell said. “This is the best time to show the fans that the pass defense has improved.”

___

Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RustyMillerAP

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote