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Steelers hoping new ‘D’ nets same results vs. Bucs

By WTOP Staff

WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cam Heyward has been around long enough to know the drill.

No matter whom the fourth-year defensive end stands next to in the huddle Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) face the staggering Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3), the way the Steelers go about their business will not change.

Sure injured linebackers Jarvis Jones (wrist surgery) and Ryan Shazier (knee sprain) will be missed.

It doesn’t mean defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is going to hit delete on his playbook and start from scratch for replacements Arthur Moats and Sean Spence, who filled in capably during the final 25 minutes of last Sunday’s surprisingly easy 37-19 win over Carolina.

“It’s going to definitely be different,” Heyward said. “But that’s just part of the game. You’ve got to be ready for it. … We’re definitely not going to shorten the package for them. We fully expect them to step in and play.”

The game will cap an emotional comeback for Spence, who spent two years slowly recovering from a grisly left knee injury at the end of the 2012 preseason that threatened to end his career. The painful rehab from two torn knee ligaments and extensive nerve damage took its toll on his body and his mind.

The moment he runs out of the tunnel at Heinz Field as a starter, he can finally close the page on 25 months that derailed him but did not define him. Spence believes he’s as quick as he was before that awkward step against Carolina in August 2012.

He believes he’s smarter too thanks extensive work in the film room, where he absorbed everything he could from veterans Lawrence Timmons and Larry Foote.

Spence is eager to reward the Steelers for their patience. Some teams might have moved on when his recovery slowed to a crawl. Not Pittsburgh.

“I appreciate that,” Spence said. “It’s time to give it back.”

Things to look for as the Steelers try to move to 3-1 for the first time since 2010 while the Buccaneers look to avoid a second straight 0-4 start.

HUMBLED BUCS: Whatever optimism surrounding Tampa Bay under new coach Lovie Smith vanished during a 56-14 loss to Atlanta last week. Only a pair of meaningless scores in the fourth quarter allowed the Buccaneers to avoid the worst loss in the franchise’s 38-year history, which is saying something.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin believes Smith will be “energized” by his team’s struggles. Smith prefers to think he’s “even-keeled”, but allows there’s only one way to go.

“I’ll just say that we’re not happy being (0-3) and we want to get this right,” Smith said. “I think that’s what Mike is saying. Yes, our football team is anxious to play better and see what it feels like to win a football game.”

FAMILIAR FACES: Tampa Bay should get some needed reinforcements from running back Doug Martin and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who watched the debacle against the Falcons in street clothes due to injury. Martin’s knee appears to be healthy while McCoy practiced with a protective covering over his injured right hand. Though Smith declined to speculate on their availability, the Steelers remain wary.

“(Martin) is a quality runner, a one-cut, small and tough target,” Tomlin said. “I think they call him the “muscle hamster.” I don’t know what that is but it sounds appropriate.”

FAMILIAR FACES 2.0: The Steelers brought five-time Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison out of a brief 18-day retirement this week to address the loss of Jones, who is out at least eight weeks. The 36-year-old Harrison estimated he could see the field for “2-3 plays” against Tampa Bay, but stressed he’ll need time to get back in football shape.

“I’m going to rewrite the ending (of my career),” Harrison said. “Let’s just see what happens. We’ll see if the ending is a good one or not. Just being here is good. Let’s see if we can make it better.”

ONE-TWO PUNCH: Pittsburgh has the NFL’s top rushing offense behind Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount. Both backs topped 100 yards against the Panthers, the first time two Steelers have done that in the same game in 28 years. Bell, who leads the league in yards from scrimmage, has become an expert at setting up his blockers.

“He’s been a smart runner since I’ve been associated with him,” Tomlin said of Bell. “I think some of the things he does, he does innately.”

SHUFFLED DECK: Buccaneers quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo will take over the game planning and play calling full time while offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford takes a leave of absence to deal with a health issue. Tampa Bay is 29th in scoring, averaging just 15.8 points a game. Mike Glennon will likely start at quarterback while Josh McCown deals with a hand injury.

“Once you get that first win, things kind of get rolling,” Glennon said. “And I think that’s the mindset we’re taking again this year and we’ll work ourselves through it. It’s a long season; 13 games left in the season. Ten weeks from now, we won’t even remember this.”

___

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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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