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Rams’ defense knows it’s time to step up

By WTOP Staff

R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Whether it’s Shaun Hill or Austin Davis barking signals next week at Philadelphia, the St. Louis Rams have bigger issues to address on their bye week.

Tops on the list is shoring up an underwhelming defense that’s been burned for big plays and made very few itself, with one sack, one fumble recovery and two interceptions.

Next comes the high penalty count, something of a trademark of coach Jeff Fisher’s teams.

Special teams have been good and the offense, while making its share of mistakes, has far exceeded expectations without Sam Bradford.

Fisher and new coordinator Gregg Williams were counting on the defense to keep scores down. Instead, the Rams have allowed the third-most points in the league, worsened by a pair of interceptions by Davis returned for touchdowns.

Players aren’t blaming Williams for too much complexity. Most were around in 2012 when Williams’ son Blake coached the defensive line, and the system was similar.

“Gregg is an extremely smart, cerebral play caller,” middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “Heck, a lot of times there’s been perfect play calls and we just don’t execute.

“On some plays, it’s bad technique. On some plays, it’s bad eyes.”

The Rams squandered a 21-point lead in a spirit-sapping 34-31 loss to the Cowboys last Sunday, matching the largest advantage blown at home in franchise history.

Williams has the personnel to pressure the opposition into mistakes. In the two losses, stretches of effectiveness have been negated by big gains.

On Dallas’ go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, three plays accounted for 69 of the 84 yards. Alec Ogletree whiffed on Tony Romo’s 16-yard scramble on third-and-13; Romo had time to find Terrance Williams for 20 yards, and Janoris Jenkins interfered with Dez Bryant, resulting in a 33-yard gain.

“You’re right there, you need those plays,” defensive end Robert Quinn said. “They made them and we didn’t.”

Play-calling has seemed curious at times. Though they’re deepest on the defensive line, even with end Chris Long out with an ankle injury, the Rams often used three-man fronts against Dallas.

St. Louis ranks 28th in rush defense, allowing 155 yards per game. The Rams are last in the league in sacks and near the bottom in yards per play, rushing yards per play, passing net yards per play and scoring differential.

Quinn, who led the NFC with a franchise-record 19 sacks last season, has none the first three games.

Players insist it’s not because they’re thinking too much about Williams’ calls.

“It’s complex, but it’s easier than some of the other schemes I’ve been in where there might be four calls on one play,” Laurinaitis said. “As far as the grand scheme of things, he loves to allow you to see what you’re doing and go play fast.

“We don’t chase ghosts and go do other stuff.”

The Rams have racked up 305 yards in penalties, second-most in the NFL. Fisher argues that the referees are watching his team too closely and asserts that several calls were unwarranted against Dallas.

“Reduce the penalties? Well, we just get them to call penalties and not throw flags when there’s no infraction,” Fisher said. “That’ll significantly reduce it.”

Both Hill and Davis appear to be better replacements at quarterback than Kellen Clemens, who started the final nine games last season.

Fisher has been adamant that the 34-year-old Hill is his starter when healthy, and he’s been close enough to be the backup the last two games. Davis was fourth on the depth chart in the preseason but has persevered and looks more comfortable after his first three NFL games.

Don’t be surprised if the Rams wait until game day to announce their choice.

___

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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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