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Vikings secondary improving, but Rodgers on deck

By WTOP Staff

DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Pro Football Writer

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes is coming off the best game of his brief career.

Good timing. Aaron Rodgers is next.

Rhodes had five tackles and a career-high four pass breakups against Atlanta’s dangerous offense on Sunday, showing why he was selected in the first round of last year’s draft. Rhodes spent much of the afternoon covering Roddy White, who was targeted 14 times by Matt Ryan but had only four catches.

On the second-to-last play of the third quarter with the Falcons leading 28-27, Ryan threw deep for Julio Jones on first-and-10 from their own 30-yard line. But Rhodes was right there to knock the ball away, and the Vikings forced a punt soon after.

“I would consider it one of my best games, but there’s even more to come. I’m looking forward to getting better,” Rhodes said.

This would be a good week for that. The Vikings play at Green Bay on Thursday, and Rodgers is more than just one of the NFL’s elite. He has tormented the rival Vikings like no other opposing quarterback.

The statistics are remarkable and impossible to downplay.

In 12 career starts against the Vikings, Rodgers has completed 71.4 percent of his passes for 3,382 yards, an average of almost 282 per game. His 116.8 cumulative passer rating is the highest by any opponent in their 54-year history. He has thrown for 27 touchdowns with just four interceptions. The Vikings have picked him off only once in the last seven games, by Harrison Smith on Dec. 2, 2012.

Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn is the leader of this Vikings secondary, but he has only faced Rodgers once, at home in 2011 for Carolina. So he has been the one seeking advice from his younger teammates like Rhodes and fellow cornerback Josh Robinson.

“I’ve been like, ‘Man, what do they like to do? And what kind of quarterback is he?’ And they’re like, ‘Man, he’s one of the best, and you’re going to see when you play him,'” Munnerlyn said, adding: “I’m just going to these guys trying to get all the help I can.”

One of this franchise’s biggest problems for years has been drafting and developing cornerbacks. The best player for the Vikings at that position in the last decade was Antoine Winfield, who signed as a free agent, like Munnerlyn did. But Rhodes and Robinson, who has two of Minnesota’s four interceptions this season, have made recent strides.

“Xavier probably played his best game last week. Josh has been consistent,” coach Mike Zimmer said. “I just want Josh to be a little bit more confident in his abilities. He’s got a chance to be a very good corner if he continues working on the techniques, refining the techniques, understanding the concepts more.”

Such progress is not a secret.

“Their younger players, like you always like to see your younger players, they’re taking a big step in their second and third year,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “So I think it’s a better defense than in the past.”

Munnerlyn’s arrival meant Robinson could move out of the slot and back to the outside after playing out of position last season.

“I had a lot of growing pains as a player last year, a lot of things I had to deal with, but I definitely see the growth and am just going to try to continue,” Robinson said.

Rodgers, on a conference call Tuesday with Minnesota reporters, expressed respect for Zimmer and the defenses he’s supervised over the years.

“He’s always well-prepared and very confusing at times with their schemes,” Rodgers said, “and I think it’s a defense that’s proven that’ll be one of the top defenses when it’s said and done.”

The Vikings would take a significant step toward that with an effective game against Rodgers.

“We have to do a great job of keeping an eye on our luggage — that means your man — and play football,” Munnerlyn said.

Indeed, a strong pass rush is only the start. When Rodgers runs out of the pocket, he’s one of the best at that, too.

“Don’t look at Medusa, because he’s going to turn you to stone,” Robinson said, repeating the Greek mythology-inspired mantra for the secondary this week. “So we’re always trying to keep our eyes on the receiver as long as we can, especially with this quarterback.”

___

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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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