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Philbin noncommittal regarding Tannehill’s status

By WTOP Staff

STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — If embattled quarterback Ryan Tannehill needed a public vote of confidence from his coach, he didn’t get it.

Joe Philbin was asked four times by reporters whether Tannehill will remain the Miami Dolphins’ starter this week, and each time the coach was noncommittal.

“We’re going to start our game plan for Oakland when I leave here,” Philbin said at his weekly Monday news conference, “and we’re going to decide what 46 players are going, and how best to utilize them.”

Tannehill has started all 35 games since being drafted in 2012, but has played poorly this year for the Dolphins (1-2), who face the Raiders in London on Sunday. His backup is Matt Moore, who has made 25 starts in seven NFL seasons.

When Philbin was asked if his noncommittal stance would create the perception Tannehill is in limbo, the coach said, “I’m going to stick with the answer that I’ve given.”

Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor didn’t hesitate when asked if he had doubts whether Tannehill would start against Oakland.

“No. Is there any doubt that I’ll be the coordinator next weekend?” Lazor said. He added, “We all rent these seats, right? It’s a production business, and that’s what we’re here to do — produce.”

Tannehill ranks 32nd and last in the NFL at 5.0 yards per pass attempt, compared with the league average of 7.1. He has averaged less than 6 yards per attempt in each of his past five games dating to last season.

With a bye next week, it’s likely Tannehill will get at least one more start before Philbin seriously considers a switch. Tannehill was hardly the lone culprit the past two weeks against Buffalo and Kansas City when Miami lost each game by 19 points.

“We have to become a more consistent team in all three phases of the game,” Philbin said. “I have to do a better job, there’s no question about that. … We have to play better, and we have to get better quick.”

Many of the issues carry over from last season. Tackling has been a problem on defense, while Tannehill has been hampered by shaky protection and dropped passes. Slow starts are a recurring factor, too, with the Dolphins trailing at halftime by nine, 10 and 11 points.

The back-to-back defeats have made a season-opening win over New England seem like a distant achievement, while stirring memories of 2013’s late-season collapse. Oddly, in the Dolphins’ past six games they’ve beaten the reigning AFC East champion Patriots twice, while losing the four other games by a combined score of 102-32.

The most pressing problems are on offense. The Dolphins have managed only a single touchdown each of the past two weeks, even though they’re averaging 5.2 yards per rush, second-best in the league.

Lazor cited the poor yards-per-pass average as his biggest concern, reflecting of an inability to stretch the field even with receiver Mike Wallace, one of the NFL’s fastest players. Tannehill is 7 for 21 on passes traveling more than 10 yards, and he has only one completion of at least 25 yards, worst among the league’s starters.

In the past, Tannehill and his coaches have agreed he needs to improve his accuracy and decision-making. Philbin and Lazor said they saw signs improvement Sunday.

“There were some examples in the first half when he played just like you’d want an NFL quarterback to play, sliding the pocket, throwing some accurate throws,” Lazor said. “I thought he threw the ball more accurately than he did last week.

“I think he’s going to watch the video and see some plays he’d like back. I have a pretty clear picture of the way that we coach him to help him get there.”

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

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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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