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Packers search for answers on offense

By WTOP Staff

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers began the process of fixing their once-potent offense on Monday morning, with a no-fun film review of the team’s 19-7 loss to the Detroit Lions the day before.

“This is what Mondays are for,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “Win or lose.”

Rarely, though, have the Packers spent a Monday poring over the offensive film wondering what went wrong. And plenty went wrong.

Running back Eddie Lacy, who was the NFL offensive rookie of the year last season, had his third straight substandard game, rushing 11 times for 36 yards, with 17 yards coming on one carry. For the season, Lacy has carried 36 times for 113 yards after rushing for 1,178 yards – and registering four 100-yard games — last season. “Disappointing” was the word McCarthy used to describe the minimal production.

“Eddie needs to play better,” McCarthy said, refusing to elaborate. “I don’t correct individuals in the media.”

Asked about his performance after the game, Lacy replied, “”Honestly, I don’t know (what’s wrong). I’m just as puzzled with the game. We just have to figure out better ways to run the ball. I don’t know if I have to be more patient or speed things up, but one way or another I’m responsible for the run game.”

As a team, the Packers rushed 22 times for 76 yards despite the Lions essentially daring them to run by playing their two safeties deep with five defensive backs on the field.

“Our running game wasn’t nearly what it needed to be. Not even close,” McCarthy said. “We had plenty of corrections to go around for everybody.”

The coaching staff said it had seen the Lions play with one safety deep for most if their first two games but weren’t surprised when Detroit used a Cover-2 defense to protect its injury-ravaged secondary. Not only was the Packers’ running game unproductive, but Lacy fumbled on the opening drive of the game, and Lions safety Don Carey returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. Later, Lacy was tackled in the end zone for a safety on a play that began at the 1-yard line.

“We missed some holes. There were some holes there, and we need to finish better,” offensive coordinator Tom Clements said. “You can’t start the game the way we started off. We fumbled and gave them a touchdown and (then) had a safety, gave them two more points. And in the ensuing drive by the Lions, they got a field goal. So that’s 12 points related to the (run game) for the Lions, which isn’t good.”

But the run game wasn’t the only problem. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 16 of 27 passes for 162 yards — the second-fewest passing yards he’s ever had in a game in which he didn’t get hurt. His career low for a game he started and finished was a 142-yard effort in a Nov. 9, 2008 loss at Minnesota.

Although Rodgers wasn’t his usual, accurate self – his biggest miss was on a fourth-and-5 pass in the fourth quarter that he threw behind Jordy Nelson, who was open for what would have been a 20-yard touchdown — McCarthy and Clements also counted dropped six passes by Packers receivers.

“We have to catch the football better,” McCarthy said.

As an offense, the seven points the Packers scored were the fewest they’ve ever scored in a game in which Rodgers started and finished. Previously, the Packers’ lowest scoring output since Rodgers became the starter in 2008 was in a 9-0 shutout victory over the New York Jets in 2010. The Packers’ longest play from scrimmage against the Lions went for 18 yards. It marked the first time since that 2008 loss to Minnesota that they didn’t have at least one 20-yard play.

Both after the game and Monday, McCarthy second-guessed whether he should have gone to a more pass-heavy approach once he realized the ground game wasn’t working like it should have against the Lions’ defensive approach. The Packers ran the ball 15 times in the first half and only seven times in the second half.

“The ability to attack any coverage, particularly with Aaron, the only correction I would make as a play-caller is, ‘Do you go to it sooner?'” McCarthy said. “As far as just attacking their coverage, attacking their two-deep. Once again, we have good players. We didn’t play very well in the run game and it definitely factored in the game.”

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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