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Eagles suddenly look ordinary on offense

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Needing only a yard to score the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, the Philadelphia Eagles failed twice.

Not so prolific.

Nick Foles struggled, LeSean McCoy hasn’t been a factor and the rest of an offense that previously scored at will suddenly looks ordinary. A 26-21 loss to San Francisco on Sunday underscored many of Philadelphia’s problems.

“I think some people are pressing and trying to make things out of something that isn’t there right now at every position,” coach Chip Kelly said Monday. “I think everybody has just got to kind of settle down and go back to playing football.”

Two special teams touchdowns and one defensive score gave the Eagles a 21-10 lead they couldn’t hold against the 49ers because an offense that averaged 33.7 points in the first three weeks was shut out.

The Eagles (3-1) didn’t even cross into San Francisco territory in the first 55 minutes. That’s when they drove to the 1 only to have Foles throw two incomplete passes on third and fourth down.

McCoy, an All-Pro last year, didn’t even get a crack at the end zone after his 4-yard run to the 1. Kelly figured his makeshift offensive line wasn’t going to get a strong push after seeing it get knocked around all game.

“We weren’t really getting a ton of push at the point of attack,” Kelly said. “I didn’t think we were going to be able to pound it in in that situation.”

McCoy led the NFL in rushing last year and the Eagles were first overall, but the run game was brutal the first month. McCoy has 192 yards and is averaging 2.7 per carry. Losing All-Pro guard Evan Mathis and center Jason Kelce to injuries along with not having right tackle Lane Johnson in the lineup because of a suspension is the main reason why McCoy has no room to run.

“I don’t think we’ve been able to spring him,” Kelly said. “We haven’t gotten him to the second level. We’re losing some battles at the line of scrimmage, so obviously it’s about getting going and getting started.”

Foles led the NFL in yards passing through the first three games, but continues to miss open receivers. He had two interceptions and now has thrown four picks, doubling his season total from last year. The line has had trouble protecting him and he has taken several hard hits.

“We’re going to be fine,” Foles said. “You’re going to go through things like this in life. You’re going to have a rough game, and I have all the confidence in the world because I know my teammates. I know the guys that are on the O-line, and we’re going to learn and we’re going to be better for it because they’re not going to beat themselves down. They’re going to look at this as an opportunity to get better.”

Johnson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2013, returns this week. If the other starting linemen were healthy, he may have eased his way back. Now, the Eagles need him to jump right in.

“We haven’t seen him for a month,” Kelly said. “He told me he was in Dallas working out. He looked good, so it’s just the unknown. We haven’t seen him in four weeks, so where is he at and how does he process things, how quickly does he get back into the swing of things, where is he from a health standpoint?”

The Eagles host St. Louis (1-2) this week. The Rams are coming off a bye.

NOTES: OL Kevin Graf was released to make room for Johnson. … Kelly said McCoy is healthy and isn’t receiving treatment for any injuries. McCoy hurt his toe in the preseason. … The Eagles held the ball for only 17:43 vs. San Francisco. They’re last in time of possession at 24:22.

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

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

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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