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Jaguars ‘need to stop the bleeding’ on defense

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Defense was supposed to be Jacksonville’s strength this season, the thing coach Gus Bradley could rely on while he sorted out the other side of the ball.

Through three games, the unit has been a liability.

The Jaguars (0-3) have allowed 466 yards a game and given up a league-high 119 points. They have experienced enough blown coverages, missed assignments and mental errors to last an entire season.

Players have seemed lost at times, leaving fans shaking their heads and coaches scratching theirs.

“Right now, we’re just not playing at a high level,” Bradley said Monday, a day after a 44-17 home loss to Indianapolis.

Jacksonville, which plays at San Diego (2-1) on Sunday, reached a low point in the first half against the Colts.

Indy scored on its first six possessions, taking a 30-0 lead before the Jaguars picked up their second first down. Andrew Luck had time to throw. Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw had room to run. And several receivers were left wide open across the field.

“It’s a little frustrating,” cornerback Dwayne Gratz said. “Until we correct those mistakes, teams are going to keep doing the same thing. So we need to stop the bleeding and progress from there.”

The Jaguars rank 32nd in the league in total defense, coming in 25th or worse in 10 of 19 defensive categories.

Although they have done some things well — they have 10 sacks and held LeSean McCoy to 74 yards rushing in the season opener — those are few and far between.

Kirk Cousins, Nick Foles and Luck completed a combined 68 percent of their passes against Jacksonville for nearly 1,000 yards, with eight touchdowns and an interception.

The Jags insist it’s not the entire defense out of sync, but rather one or two players out of position. However, it’s happening on just about every play.

“We’ve got some guys doing the right thing and some guys not,” defensive tackle Roy Miller said. “But when you’re playing in the NFL, that kind of stuff gets you beat. It’s a recurring theme that we need to get fixed. I don’t know how many ways we can say it. We’ve just got to do it.

“When you look at the film, it looks simple: Just do your job. It sounds simple to say it, but I really think it is. Some guys are doing their job right and some are doing it wrong. That’s a recipe for failure. Just do you job and at least give ourselves a chance to fight.”

Bradley said he might consider personnel changes.

The quarterback switch could help.

Jacksonville’s offense has been mostly stagnant since a first-half surge at Philadelphia in the opener. With Chad Henne at quarterback, the Jaguars had a league-leading 15 three-and-out drives in 10 quarters. When the offense can’t stay on the field, it usually means the defense does.

And that’s never good, especially for a team with little depth.

Bradley switched to rookie Blake Bortles at halftime Sunday, and Bortles’ presence and plays lifted the entire team.

“When you keep playing defense and you don’t get the reward of watching the offense do their thing, it does something to you,” Miller said. “We like to think, ‘Hey, whatever happens, we get paid to play defense.’ But if you get in a rhythm of sitting down and going back out, it can frustrate you. I think what’s promising is the second half. The offense was moving the ball and it just did something to the defense.”

The Jaguars seemingly upgraded their defense in the offseason, bringing in pass-rusher Chris Clemons, run-stopper Red Bryant and backup lineman Ziggy Hood as well as linebacker Dekoda Watson. But even with added talent, the unit has been slow to gel. And now it could see more changes.

“Defensively we should be playing a lot better than that,” linebacker Paul Posluszny said. “We’re making mistakes. We’re not playing together as a unit. We’re not very consistent. We need to be much more consistent in everything we do. We’re not trusting the guy next to us.

“We have such a strong desire to do well that we want to do a little bit more, and that’s when things start to break down.”

___

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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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