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Bears get their run game going

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Jay Cutler can’t remember the last time he saw Matt Forte winded in a game.

The Chicago Bears’ running back runs hills in the offseason and spends a good chunk of his time on the treadmill, making sure he’s ready once the season approaches.

“Whenever we do take him out he seems to be sitting on the sideline just waiting to come back in,” Cutler, the Bears’ quarterback, said. “You never see him go over and look for oxygen or sit down and he’s completely gassed.”

Clearly, the two-time Pro Bowl running back has plenty left in the tank. If anyone was wondering, Forte made that clear last week against the Green Bay Packers.

Forte ran for 122 yards after being held to just 136 through the first three games, and the Bears racked up 235 in all for their highest rushing total in 26 years.

The problem was the Bears had trouble finishing drives, and they still managed to lose by 21 points to their NFC North rivals, despite all they gained on the ground. Still, the fact that the running game got going was a positive, even if Green Bay basically dared them.

Forte took advantage, averaging 5.3 yards on his 23 carries. So did Ka’Deem Carey, who ran for 72 yards. And, there might be more opportunities for Chicago this week considering Carolina ranks just 27th against the run.

“I think to be motivated by stats is a little bit selfish, and I’m not a selfish player,” Forte said. “I want everybody on the offense to succeed. What motivates me is a lot of things.”

He said he’s motivated simply by the opportunity that he has. He wants to make it last. But he also wants to be seen as more than just a good running back.

He wants to be remembered for his efforts in the community and the work he put in on the field.

“I think I’m pretty important to the offense, just as far as what we do as an offense, whether it’s running the ball and being involved in the passing game and blocking,” Forte said. “We have a lot of important parts on our offense. It’s not just me.”

Forte is in his seventh season, a time when running backs tend to decline. But he’s not showing any obvious signs of decline.

One of the league’s most versatile running backs, he ran for a career-high 1,339 yards last season. But the opportunities weren’t there in the first three games this year.

A big reason for that was who the Bears were playing — Buffalo, San Francisco and the New York Jets.

Those three teams boast the league’s top three run defenses at the moment, with the Jets allowing a league-low 63.2 yards per game.

Given that, it was not exactly shocking that the Bears decided to rely more on Cutler’s arm than Forte’s legs. They felt they had to throw the ball to win.

Forte carried 17 times for 82 yards in the opener at home against Buffalo to go along with 87 yards receiving. The Bears lost that game but pulled off prime-time victories on each coast the next two weeks, beating San Francisco and New York.

There weren’t many handoffs in either game, with Forte carrying 12 times for 21 yards against the 49ers, and 13 times for 33 yards against the Jets.

It was not just who the Bears were playing. The execution in the run game was off. But against Green Bay, the openings were there.

“After watching the film, we got to see the issues with our running game weren’t necessarily what other teams were doing to us,” said left guard Matt Slauson, who hopes to return after missing three games with an ankle injury. “It was us not being perfect with our technique, not being perfect with our steps. The Green Bay game, the guys did a tremendous job. They put it all together for Matt.”

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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