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Giants defense getting set for top-ranked Falcons

By WTOP Staff

TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Going against one of the NFL’s best is a sure way to get a player motivated.

It’s one of the reasons the New York Giants’ defense is ready for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons at MetLife Stadium.

“I think we all play this game to compete against the best,” Giants linebacker Jameel McClain said. “I think we all play this game to see how we stack up.”

Statistically, the Giants (2-2) are 18th in the league on defense a quarter of the way into the season.

The Falcons (2-2) are tied with Indianapolis for the No. 1 spot on offense.

While that might seem to be a mismatch, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s unit has been outstanding the past two games, forcing nine turnovers in the wins over Houston and Washington. New York had six in the 45-14 win over the Redskins on Sept. 25.

Now it faces quarterback Matt Ryan and a talented receiving corps that features Julio Jones, Roddy White, Harry Douglas and Devin Hester. The Falcons are not as good on the ground, but they have a diverse group of running backs led by Steven Jackson, who leads the team with 50 carries for 201 yards and a touchdown.

The Giants seemingly have caught the Falcons at the right time. Atlanta’s offensive line is banged up.

Center Joe Hawley and right tackle Lamar Holmes sustained season-ending injuries last week and left guard Justin Blalock is battling a foot injury.

Peter Konz will replace Hawley and Gabe Carimi will take over for Holmes. Harland Gunn probably would start if Blalock can’t go.

The Giants aren’t dreaming of an easy game.

“Not around here because we understand very recently how hard wins are to come by,” defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka said. “Yeah, there might be some match up things we want to take advantage of, but we will never take anyone lightly.”

Falcons coach Mike Smith said the offensive line was one of his deepest units coming into training camp, and line coach Mike Tice has taught his group that Ryan doesn’t need a lot of time to find his receivers.

In the team’s last meeting in 2012, Ryan threw three touchdowns in a 34-0 win.

Fewell said he is taking the same approach he had the past two weeks. He is trying to get his unit to focus on what it has to do well, which is stop the run and get pressure on the quarterback. His main hope is that Ryan doesn’t play better than in their last meeting. If he does, the Giants are in trouble.

“He is the leader of that offense,” Fewell said. “He has very skilled people around him. He is coming out of the pocket and making throws on the run better than he did the last time we played him. I think that is just part of his game now. He is very accurate and I have a lot of respect for him as quarterback.”

Ryan has thrown for 1,263 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jones has 29 catches for 447 yards receiving and three touchdowns.

Ryan’s receivers have battled injuries this week. Douglas (foot), Hester (ankle) and Jones (ankle) were all limited at practice this week.

“They are a good offense, but we are a good defense, too,” Giants safety Antrel Rolle said. “The way I look at it, may the best man win.”

NOTES: First-round draft pick Odell Beckham Jr., is looking more and more likely to make his NFL debut on Sunday. A hamstring injury has kept him out of all five preseason games and the four regular-season contests. Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said Thursday that he will pick his spots with the receiver if he plays. … MLB Jon Beason, who has been sidelined with a foot injury the past two games, expects to play.

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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