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Rex and Rob Ryan looking defenseless

By WTOP Staff

BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The Ryan twins are best known for their defensive acumen. After four weeks, they are looking defenseless.

Rex’s Jets are 1-3, have lost three in a row and can’t cover anyone in the passing game. That’s not a formula for success in the NFL 2014, when even the worst offenses pretty much are built around the air game.

Rob’s Saints — he’s the defensive coordinator under coach Sean Payton — have been even worse than Rex’s bunch. At least the Jets can manufacture a pass rush, as inconsistent as it has been.

New York has allowed 96 points, 14 fewer than New Orleans. That’s hardly the stinginess expected from Rex Ryan’s units.

Get this: Detroit went 90 yards on 14 plays, 78 through the air, on a clinching drive Sunday.

“To be a great defense, you can’t give that up, especially multiple times,” linebacker Demario Davis said. “We have to find a way to stop that from happening.

“Why is this happening? Why are you able to go three-and-out here and three-and-out there, and then one drive they put all the plays together right? It’s just adversity. I can’t tell you why it’s happening.”

Unfortunately for Jets fans, this team might not have the answers. Sure, the front line is stout — Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson are Pro Bowl-quality players — and Davis, David Harris and Calvin Pace are solid linebackers.

That is more than offset by an overmatched secondary where one cornerback is playing out of position (former safety Antonio Allen), one safety is a rookie who can hit but struggles in coverage, and nobody is a standout. Or even close.

New York hasn’t recovered from trading Darrelle Revis after the 2012 season, or from letting Antonio Cromartie leave in free agency last winter.

Or from drafting Dee Milliner in the first round in 2013 and seeing him either flop in coverage or be injured and unable to suit up.

General manager John Idzik has been criticized for recent moves in the secondary, and the one free agent signing, Dimitri Patterson, was hurt throughout training camp, went AWOL and skipped a preseason game, the was suspended and cut.

The Jets ranked highly in yards allowed heading into Week 4, but that’s misleading. They usually can shut down the run, and the sacks they get also decrease the number of yards they yield.

But when they don’t threaten the quarterback, there are receivers running so free it’s difficult to figure out who is supposed to be on them. And we’re not just talking wideouts, but tight ends and running backs.

“The way it’s going to change, it’s going to take everyone in that room,” Ryan said. “We know it’s a united group. We’re going to fight to stick together and fight our way out. We know it’s not easy, but that’s the only way we know how to do it and that’s what we’re going to do.”

His brother is saying the same kind of things in New Orleans. At least Rob Ryan can expect the Saints’ normally potent offense to wake up at some point — that’s far less likely in New York.

Regardless, the Saints find things incredibly difficult on defense when they are away from the Big Easy. Their one victory was 20-9 at home against Adrian Peterson-less Minnesota. In three road losses, the Saints have allowed 101 points.

Yes, things might improve as New Orleans plays five of its next seven in the Superdome, including a three-game homestand.

But if Rob Ryan’s defense remains such a sieve with Green Bay, San Francisco, Cincinnati and Baltimore on the upcoming home schedule, the defeats might keep coming no matter how soon Drew Brees and company get it together.

“It’s challenging. It’s disappointing. It’s frustrating,” Payton said. “But it’s on all of us now. It’s on me. It’s on our staff. It’s on the team. Obviously, it’s not where you want to be one-quarter through the season. We’ve got to look closely at the reasons why we’re not winning.”

Focus in on the defense, Sean. The Saints hired Rob Ryan after he was fired as coordinator with the Cowboys. On Sunday night, Dallas did everything it wanted to Ryan’s D.

New Orleans signed three-time Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd to anchor the secondary. But that group has struggled, in part because some effective pass rushers from last season (Junior Galette and Cameron Jordan) have been stymied. The Saints don’t blitz well, so the cornerbacks in particular are stressed every week to maintain coverages.

One thing is certain: the way the Ryans’ defenses are playing is, well, defenseless.

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AP Sports Writer Dennis Waszak Jr., contributed to this story.

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

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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