Skip to main content

Patriots offense still struggling after 3 games

By WTOP Staff

HOWARD ULMAN
AP Sports Writer

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots have plenty of time to get their offense rolling.

The question is: Do they have the players?

The offensive line is struggling to protect quarterback Tom Brady and open holes for running backs. The wide receivers, other than Julian Edelman, have contributed little. The tight end production will be limited until Rob Gronkowski regains his form after offseason knee surgery.

“We can do just really pretty much everything better offensively,” coach Bill Belichick said. “Everything. Blocking, throwing, catching, running, run reads, routes, distribution, you name it.”

That became obvious Sunday when they needed a last-minute interception deep inside their territory to hold off the winless Oakland Raiders for a 16-9 win.

Oakland came in with the NFL’s worst run defense, allowing 200 yards per game. New England managed just 76.

The Patriots gained only 297 yards, their second straight game with fewer than 300.

And wide receivers other than Edelman caught just five passes.

Kenbrell Thompkins, who had one of those catches, said Monday he’s concerned that an offense that has worked together through organized team activities in May, minicamp in June and training camp in July and August, still is struggling to get into a rhythm.

“Mistakes will be made and we’re not perfect,” Thompkins said. “The game’s going fast, everybody’s playing fast, things are flying around, so we’re just going out there and react to certain situations.”

In the last seven seasons, the worst the Patriots finished in offensive yardage was eighth. They were first in 2007 (411.3 yard per game) and 2012 (427.9), second in 2011 (428) and third in 2009 (397.3).

Now their 27th with 301.3 and have just three offensive touchdowns in the last 10 quarters.

“Starting 0-1, it’s good to be 2-1,” Brady said, “but, obviously, there is a lot of room for improvement.”

First, there’s the offensive line.

The trade of left guard Logan Mankins to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 26, just 12 days before the season opener, removed a six-time Pro Bowl player and the anchor of the line and has led to players rotating in different spots.

Marcus Cannon, a four-year veteran tackle, moved into Mankins’ guard spot and has struggled. So have veteran tackles Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer. Right guard Jordan Devey was replaced after some poor plays Sunday.

“It’s not one guy. It’s not one play,” Solder said. “It’s a number of plays that we’re breaking down.”

Then there are the wide receivers.

Edelman has been sure-handed and elusive with 22 catches. The others have a total of 14, led by Thompkins with six.

Brandon LaFell has four after a career-high 49 last season with Carolina. Danny Amendola, a disappointment since signing a five-year, $31 million contract before last season, has three. Aaron Dobson, inactive despite being healthy Sunday, has one after making 37 catches as second-round draft pick last year.

With poor protection forcing Brady to throw quickly, that mediocre group has little time to get open.

“We’ve got some new players. We’ve got different things that are happening,” Brady said. “We’re all trying to get used to one another and used to the things we’re doing.

“At the end of the year, you’re in a position to, hopefully, make the playoffs.”

It will be easier if Gronkowski keeps progressing.

He had surgery in January, didn’t play in any preseason games and has 11 catches and two touchdowns in three games. But he’s played fewer than half the offensive snaps (112 of 230) and seems tentative at times.

The Patriots have an extra day to prepare for their next game on Monday at the Kansas City Chiefs. They stress that they tend to improve as the season goes on.

There’s plenty of room for that as Belichick tries to find the best combination of offensive linemen and figure out a way to get more wide receivers involved in the attack.

“We’re trying to build something,” Brady said, “but we have to improve everything.”

___

Online: AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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