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Eagles winning despite deficiencies

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles are far happier with their record than their performance.

A 4-1 start has the defending NFC East champions tied with Dallas for the division lead. But they’re not satisfied with the way they’ve been winning.

The offense has been inconsistent. The defense has done a better job scoring touchdowns than preventing points. If not for their impressive special teams, the Eagles could be 1-4.

“I don’t see anything as a quick fix. We have to continue to work,” coach Chip Kelly said Monday. “The positive is we’re working from a position of being 4-1 and trying to get better.”

After building a 27-point lead against St. Louis on Sunday, the Eagles allowed 21 straight points and needed a defensive stand to secure the win. They had to overcome a 17-0 halftime deficit against Jacksonville in Week 1, a 17-6 halftime deficit against Indianapolis in Week 2 and a 17-7 second-quarter deficit against Washington in Week 3.

The offense didn’t score a point in a 26-21 loss at San Francisco last week and managed two of the four TDs vs. the Rams. The defense and special teams already have seven TDs while the offense has 11.

“As a team, we’re not there yet, but we’re going to continue to grind because I know the guys in the locker room and we want to strive to get better each and every day,” quarterback Nick Foles said. “That’s why it’s a good thing. Offensively we’ll continue to improve. We’ll look at the film and we’ll improve on things.”

The biggest problem on offense is the running game. LeSean McCoy, an All-Pro last year when he set a franchise record for yards rushing, has only 273 yards and is averaging 2.9 per carry.

Darren Sproles, however, has 172 yards and is averaging 6.9 per carry. Sproles got the ball late in the fourth quarter against the Rams while the Eagles were trying to run out the clock. But McCoy said he took himself out after a couple carries. That wasn’t a big deal for Kelly, but he faced several questions about at it.

“I’m not concerned with who is in the game,” Kelly said. “I’m happy with either guy in there. Both of those guys are good backs and our play-calling doesn’t change.”

Knowing they have areas for improvement has players approaching the season with optimism. If they still haven’t put things together and are winning, the team’s future could be bright once all three phases — offense, defense and special teams — play well collectively.

“There is always room to get better,” wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said. “I feel like we have been saying the same thing week in and week out, but we will get it fixed. I think the bigger picture here is just wins and right now we are 4-1. We will learn from this and move on.”

Next up for the Eagles are the New York Giants (3-2) in a nationally televised home game on Sunday night. The Giants have won three straight games after a rough start.

NOTES: Kelly had no update on LB DeMeco Ryans, who injured his right groin vs. the Rams. Defensive coordinator Billy Davis said after the game he expects Ryans to return quickly. … If Chris Polk’s hamstring keeps him out this week, Kelly plans to use rookie Josh Huff on kick returns. Huff had a 102-yard TD return in the preseason. … The Eagles signed S Jordan Kovacs to the practice squad and released WR Cobi Hamilton.

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

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

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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