Skip to main content

Saints humbled, but not hopeless after 1-3 start

By WTOP Staff

GUERRY SMITH
Associated Press

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Defensive captain Junior Galette is disgusted by the Saints’ sluggish start.

“You have to be realistic and know that we’re not as good as we thought we were,” Galette, a pass-rushing outside linebacker, said Monday. “We have three quarters (of the season) left, and we have to improve drastically.”

With the Saints (1-3) coming off a 38-17 loss at Dallas on Sunday night and at the bottom of the NFC South, Galette doesn’t seem to be getting any arguments from teammates or coaches.

Instead of naming one or two overriding concerns, coach Sean Payton rattled off the offense, the defense, the special teams, preparation and coaching as areas that needed to get better before Sunday’s home game against Tampa Bay (1-3).

The Saints appeared staggered and stunned by their lopsided loss in Dallas, particularly because of how much more competitive they looked in their first three games. They held leads in the last 10 seconds of their first two games — which were both on the road — before losing each by three points or fewer.

New Orleans then responded with a 20-9 win at the Superdome against Minnesota before heading to Dallas with a chance to even their record. Instead, they fell behind 24-0 by halftime and trailed 31-3 entering the fourth quarter.

The only positive came from outside. The Saints remained one game out of first place in the division because co-leaders Atlanta and Carolina, both 2-2, also lost on Sunday.

Right now, though, the Saints are worried about what is wrong on the inside.

“Nothing is encouraging right now,” Galette said. “We’re not looking at other teams. We’re looking at ourselves, and how we played last night was discouraging. At the same time, you’ve got to be tough and be strong through these tough times because they never last.”

Coming off an 11-5 season in 2013, the Saints talked in the preseason about having the most talented roster in Payton’s nine-year tenure. They pointed to the addition of three-time Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd and wide receiver Brandin Cooks, a first-round draft pick.

But September has told a different story. The contrast between their performance against Dallas last season and on Sunday was dramatic.

The Saints beat the Cowboys 49-17 last November at home, recording an NFL-record 40 first downs while Dallas failed to convert any of its nine third-down opportunities.

This time, the Cowboys scored four touchdowns and a field goal on their first five possessions. New Orleans hasn’t forced a turnover since the first quarter of the season opener against Atlanta.

“Whenever you have a talented group like this on paper, you shouldn’t be 1-3, but it’s still early,” cornerback Corey White said. “In order to go far into the playoffs, we have to fix those problems, but we still have a shot to get into the postseason.”

The offense was part of the problem, too, committing three turnovers. Drew Brees threw an interception in the first half. Tight end Jimmy Graham and running back Travaris Cadet lost fumbles in the second half.

Even in its victory against Minnesota, New Orleans scored its fewest points at home since its final regular-season game in 2010.

“At the end of the day the players are the ones that have to make plays,” offensive tackle Zach Strief said. “The coaches can re-scheme or try to motivate and all those things, but it’s on us. It’s absolutely on the leadership in the locker room. It’s on us to get it straight.”

The kicking game hasn’t helped, either. Shayne Graham was wide right on a 41-yard field goal against Dallas a week after missing an extra point. When the Saints pulled within 31-17 in the fourth quarter at Dallas, a fake punt ended with punter Thomas Morstead losing two yards after finding no open receivers.

“There’s a lot of things that need to be cleaned up,” Payton said. “Quite honestly, we’re playing like a 1-3 team right now, and that’s what our record is.”

___

AP NFL websites: 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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote