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Coach sees Titans struggling with growing pains

By WTOP Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Coach Ken Whisenhunt doesn’t believe the NFL did his team any favors by scheduling Tennessee to play three of its first four games on the road.

Not that his Titans have helped their first-year coach much either.

The Titans (1-3) have lost three straight after opening the season with a win at Kansas City and been outscored 100-34 in this skid. They have fallen behind by double digits in the first half of each game, though the Titans at least managed 10 points before halftime of their latest loss in Indianapolis for their first points in the first half since that opening win.

“We played four pretty good teams, three of them on the road, and it was difficult,” Whisenhunt said Monday. “That coupled with the fact that new systems, new things, new ways of doing things, we’ve had some not so good games. I mean I’m stating the obvious of course, but we’re going to get it going in the right direction. I have every confidence in that.”

Whisenhunt blamed growing pains along with a lack of discipline for the Titans’ struggles. He said Arizona went through a similar learning curve when he took over as head coach there in 2007 and also last season when he was offensive coordinator in San Diego.

“There’s some things we’re doing, we’re just not doing enough often enough,” Whisenhunt said.

Other three NFL teams have scored fewer than the Titans’ 60 points this season. The Titans played without Jake Locker in Sunday’s 41-17 loss in Indianapolis, and the quarterback is expected back at practice Wednesday with his sore right wrist.

Whisenhunt also said the coaches looked Monday at streamlining the offense, hoping to allow the Titans to play faster. He is seeing the Titans make mistakes across the board in details such as receivers running the right split or precise depth on routes.

They started their latest loss with a fumble on the opening drive followed by an interception off the hands of receiver Justin Hunter on the second. They followed that with a three-and-out and finished holding the ball for only 7 minutes, 33 seconds of the first half and only 17:39 for the game.

Some lineup changes might be considered. Left guard Andy Levitre has struggled early this season, ranking second among the Titans for penalties. Tackle Taylor Lewan, the 11th pick overall out of Michigan, practiced at left guard during training camp while Levitre recovered from an appendectomy.

Cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson is recovering from a concussion, and he has been flagged for the most penalties on the team already this season. His injury might allow Coty Sensabaugh to move back outside from defending the slot.

Tight end Delanie Walker has been the most consistent player for Tennessee with a team-high 22 catches for 317 yards and three touchdowns. He said Monday he doesn’t know if there will be any changes to the lineup or scheme.

“I’m pretty sure it will happen,” Walker said. “When you’re 1-3, changes will be made.”

The schedule does get easier for the Titans in October. They host the Cleveland Browns (1-2) on Sunday followed by a visit from Jacksonville (0-4), a trip to Washington (1-3) and then Houston (3-1) comes to Nashville before Tennessee’s bye.

Whisenhunt said players and coaches hear what people say and this start is tough. He also helped hype expectations by saying this team’s goal is hosting a home playoff game. But he also believes he has some coaches and players who have played through rough starts to seasons will help keep the Titans focused on improving.

“This isn’t an easy thing to go through,” Whisenhunt said. “Once again, I’ll say this. I believe our guys are working hard, and we’ll get through this.”

___

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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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