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No rest: Packers seek lift for running game

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Offensive lineman Josh Sitton could use a break.

Unfortunately for him, the NFL schedule calls for Green Bay and its standout left guard to play the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night — just five days after the Packers’ last game.

This didn’t make him happy on Tuesday.

“I hate it,” Sitton said.

Life in the trenches can be enough of a grind with the pounding that occurs in the running game. That part of the Packers offense has been a problem, so far, ranking just 28th in the league at 73 yards per game.

Tuesdays are when offensive linemen really feel the pounding. It’s usually a day off in a normal work week in Green Bay.

This is no normal week.

“I think it’s stupid. I think it’s all about money for the NFL, obviously,” Sitton said regarding Thursday night games. “That’s what this league is about, is about making money — which is fine. I like to make money, as well.

“But, yeah, it’s tough on your body, tough on your head,” Sitton said.

Every team has to go through it. In one area, this might be an opportune time for a Thursday game for the Packers given that their passing attack is on a roll.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-17 win last week over Chicago. Receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb had two scoring catches apiece. Nelson leads the NFL with 33 catches for 459 yards.

But running back Eddie Lacy, last year’s offensive rookie of the year, had another subpar day — and his 48 yards were still a season high. Lacy at least scored his first rushing touchdown of the year on one of his 17 carries.

“Yeah, I think we did some good things, but the offense is still not where we want it,” Rodgers said. “Obviously, we’d like to have some more balance. We didn’t run the ball real effectively.

“Sometimes it’s going to happen when you throw it so well, but we’ve got to be able to close out games running it a little more effectively.”

Lacy is averaging 3.0 yards per carry. Backup running back James Starks didn’t get a carry, though coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday that was the result of poor game management and that Starks should touch the ball every game.

But in the Packers’ hurry-up offense, in which tempo is key, sometimes the opportunities for clock-eating drives marked by grinding runs just aren’t there.

When the Packers are in shotgun, Lacy is standing next to Rodgers. The bruising back isn’t getting a head start of a few steps to build up momentum against oncoming defenders. It’s an adjustment for Lacy. Last year, the Packers were more reliant on him with Rodgers out nearly half the season with a collarbone injury.

“It’s not that I don’t like running from out of shotgun or I don’t like running from (the quarterback being) under center, you have to do what you have to do. And this is just part of what you have to do,” Lacy said.

The easygoing Lacy would love to have more yards, but remains patient.

“The pass game has been crazy good the past few games so why mess with it? At the same time, you’re going to need to be able to run the ball just to create balance and make sure the defense can’t concentrate on stopping one thing,” Lacy said.

McCarthy sees the low production as a result of lack of volume. Green Bay had 18 running plays against Chicago, and hasn’t had more than 22 in a game in the first four weeks.

There are opportunities to both run effectively and maintain tempo, the Packers maintain.

“Well, the biggest thing within our run game is we’ve got to get the attempts up, so we need to keep generating first downs,” McCarthy said. “Anytime you have a successful run game, you’re definitely pushing 30 attempts.”

Sitton, looking a bit worn while sitting at his locker, offered his unique view about the lack of production on the ground.

It was simple and to the point. He sounded tired.

“We’re not blocking good enough. The running backs aren’t running good enough. The quarterback is not making the right check all the time. Receivers aren’t making their blocks good enough,” Sitton said. “We’re not good enough in the run game right now — all around.”

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

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Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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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