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Falcons stuck in travel mode, battered by injuries

By WTOP Staff

CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Falcons’ current stretch of road games would be a challenge even under ideal circumstances.

Given Atlanta’s recent lack of success away from the Georgia Dome and its sudden crisis on the offensive line, the brutal travel schedule is especially imposing.

Sunday’s 41-28 loss at Minnesota was the start of a stretch where the Falcons play six of seven games away from Atlanta, including next week’s visit to the Giants. Their only game in Atlanta in that stretch is against the Bears on Oct. 12.

The Falcons are listed as the home team on Oct. 26 — but it’s their longest trip of all, in London against Detroit.

The loss at Minnesota left Atlanta 0-2 on the road this year. They have lost nine of 10 road games since the start of the 2013 season.

Strong wins at home have kept the Falcons (2-2) tied for first in the unimpressive NFC South. Coach Mike Smith isn’t deceived. He said he knows his team can’t expect to make the playoffs without a turnaround on the road.

“That’s something we have to address,” Smith said Monday. “We’ve had conversations as a coaching staff, we’ve had conversations with players. It’s hard to win on the road, but if you’re going to be the type of team that every team is trying to be and that’s play in the second season, you’ve got to at least split on the road.

“Right now we’ve not played anywhere close to be able to get the outcome we want. We’ll continue to talk about it and address it as a staff and as a team.”

Injuries are the most pressing concern.

Atlanta lost three starting offensive linemen — center Joe Hawley (knee), right tackle Lamar Holmes (foot) and left guard Justin Blalock (back) — to injuries in Sunday’s game. Safety William Moore (shoulder) also left the game.

Hawley and Holmes left the stadium on crutches. Tight end Levine Toilolo had to play right tackle in the fourth quarter.

Sticking with his policy of not providing injury news until Wednesday, Smith gave no updates Monday on the crisis on his offensive line. He wouldn’t say if the team is seeking outside help this week.

Peter Konz, who would be the probable fill-in starter at center, said he’s expecting to play against the Giants — just like any week.

“I’m going to treat this week like any other week. I go in there expecting to play,” Konz said Monday.

“I’m just going to go in expecting that we’re going to face a really good defense and I’m going to have to step up.”

Ryan Schraeder, who was inactive against the Vikings, started four games at right tackle as a rookie in 2013. Konz made 15 starts last season, playing center and right guard.

“If I have to be in there, I’ve done it before,” Konz said. “I know I can go in and do a great job. I’m going to have a lot of teammates to help me. … We’ve got a lot of guys to help out. It’s not going to just be me.”

Konz found a positive spin for the string of road games.

“I think now that we’ve done it a few times, we can just lock in and treat it like any other,” Konz said. “The one thing nice about having several games in a row like that is that you get to get into a routine. You get into a mode where you’re used to traveling. I think that will be good for us.”

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

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Follow Charles Odum on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CharlesOdum

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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