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Dolphins seek more consistency on offense

By WTOP Staff

STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins have totaled 71 points in their two victories while scoring one touchdown in each of their two defeats, a roller-coaster pattern that offensive coordinator Bill Lazor finds easy to assess.

“We have a better chance if we score a lot,” Lazor said Monday.

So that’s what the Dolphins (2-2) will try to do in the final 12 games. A bye this week means extra time to figure out how to get more from a maddeningly unpredictable offense.

The Dolphins scored 33 points in their opening win over New England and totaled a season-high 435 yards in Sunday’s 38-14 victory over Oakland in London. In each game they dominated despite committing three turnovers.

But in losses to Buffalo and Kansas City, the offense was awful.

“Consistency is what we’re looking for,” coach Joe Philbin said. “Even in the two losses we had, I would argue there were periods in time where we had momentum in the second half of those games, but we certainly didn’t sustain it. On Sunday, we just kind of kept playing. We grabbed some momentum and we never let up.

“Now we have to start playing at a consistently high level. It’s time.”

The Dolphins’ final touchdown came at 5:30 a.m. Monday when they arrived on their return from London, and the long trip was well worth the trouble. The victory put the brakes on a skid in danger of accelerating out of control.

Had the Dolphins lost, they would have taken a three-game losing streak into the bye week, leaving plenty of time for questions about the job security of Philbin and quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Such talk was quelled — for now, at least — by Tannehill’s best performance of the season, lifting Miami back into the mix in the AFC East.

Philbin, whose noncommittal public comments regarding Tannehill’s status created a soap opera last week, had only praise for his quarterback Monday.

“He played very well,” Philbin said. “The big thing is I thought his play speed was very good. His decision-making was good. And he threw the ball well. He had good velocity, the location was good. I think he was just kind of clicking.”

Even so, the highest-scoring performance in Philbin’s 36-game tenure was a collective effort. Of the Dolphins’ 278 yards passing, a season-high 151 came after the catch. And Miami totaled 157 yards rushing.

“With the receivers, you saw guys who were excited to have the ball in their hands and working hard to do something with it,” Lazor said. “They started to develop an attitude of how they want to play with the ball in their hands. And our offensive line felt a kind of momentum that they could control the game up front.”

With a revamped line, the Dolphins have allowed nine sacks, putting them well below last year’s frightful franchise-record pace of 58. Improved blocking is also reflected in Miami’s rushing average of 142 yards per game, which ranks fifth in the NFL.

After steamrolling winless Oakland, the challenge will be stiffer in the next game Oct. 12 against Green Bay. But the offensive line should receive a boost with the return of Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey, who missed the first four games recovering from offseason hip surgery.

Also returning will be middle linebacker Koa Misi and safety Reshad Jones. Misi missed the past two games with an ankle injury, while Jones was suspended for the first four games for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.

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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