Skip to main content

Eagles’ defense waiting for balanced game

By WTOP Staff

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Billy Davis is waiting for that game when it all comes together.

So far, it hasn’t happened.

When his unit controls the opponent’s running game, it gives up more than 400 yards passing. When it contains the opposing quarterback, as it did last week against San Francisco, it gets gashed for more than 200 yards rushing.

“We just have to get consistency right now, at all positions,” Davis said as his unit prepares to play the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. “I can’t say one position — corner, safety, inside (linebacker), outside (linebacker), the D line — played a complete game. And I can’t say anyone played poorly or outstanding.”

Through its first four games of the season, the Eagles defense has managed to take away one aspect of the opposition’s attack while getting burned by the other.

In the opener against Jacksonville, the Jaguars managed less than 3 yards per carry rushing the ball, but journeyman Chad Henne threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns.

Indianapolis rushed for 169 yards, but the Eagles were able to hold quarterback Andrew Luck, whose 1,305 passing yards leads the league, to 172 yards.

Washington managed just 84 yards rushing on 28 carries, but backup quarterback Kirk Cousins passed for 427 yards.

And last week, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick managed just 189 yards passing but Frank Gore ran for 119 of the team’s 218 rushing yards in the 26-21 win.

“The edge of our defense, we gave up six big plays again this week,” Davis said. “Those six big plays, plus four penalties that extended drives, are what we have to eliminate. Consistency again is our main issue. We are so far ahead of where we were a year ago, but these big plays were not hitting us as much.”

Davis said that will help the defense grow, along with being more disciplined with penalties.

The Eagles face a Rams offense on Sunday that, after just three games, ranks ninth in total offense and ninth in passing offense despite playing with a third-string quarterback in Austin Davis.

Davis, a second-year man out of Southern Mississippi, replaced 13-year veteran Shaun Hill, who replaced Sam Bradford, who tore his ACL during the preseason.

Rams running back Zac Stacy has gained 181 yards on 42 carries, an average of 4.3 yards per carry this season.

“It’s a quick, rhythmic offense,” Davis said. “They’ve got some running backs who hit the hole hard and right up. They are downhill runners. They take exactly what you give them.”

NOTES: Right tackle Lane Johnson came out of his first practice since returning from his four-game suspension OK and is expected to start Sunday against the Rams. … Nickel cornerback Brandon Boykin (hamstring) and linebacker Mychal Kendricks (calf) both sat out practice Wednesday. Kendricks has missed the past two games. Boykin said early in the week that he expected to play Sunday. He’ll have to practice Thursday or Friday for that to happen.

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