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49ers defense presents challenge for Davis

By WTOP Staff

R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Austin Davis has made the most of his improbable shot the St. Louis Rams, passing for 300 yards each of the last two games.

The degree of difficulty is about to go up. Way up.

The San Francisco 49ers enter Monday night’s game with the NFL’s No. 2 defense, making the going very tough even without key players from last season.

Patrick Willis leads the way for San Francisco (3-2) which has stepped up its play lately. Last week, they did enough to compensate for a sputtering offense that leaned on five field goals and converted on a fake punt deep in their territory in a 22-17 victory over the Chiefs.

Alex Smith found the going tough especially in the second half and Jamal Charles was held to 80 yards rushing.

“Patrick Willis, let’s start there,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “He is the kingpin in the middle.”

Harbaugh said tackle Justin Smith and linebacker Ahmad Brooks have also stepped up their play, plus nose tackle Ian Williams has been a find. Linebacker NaVorro Bowman has resumed running and getting closer to returning.

Davis passed for 375 yards and two touchdowns last week at Philadelphia, nearly bringing the Rams back from a 27-point deficit in a 34-28 loss. The previous game, he passed for 325 yards although he was intercepted twice.

Several players have proven reliable targets, including wide receivers Brian Quick, Kenny Britt and Austin Pettis and tight ends Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks.

The 49ers took advantage of the extra day of preparation to learn more about a player who was fourth on the depth chart during the preseason before the job dropped into his hands due to injuries to Sam Bradford and Shaun Hill. Coach Jeff Fisher reversed field after the Rams’ bye and said Davis was his quarterback for the rest of the year, after repeatedly saying Hill was that guy when he returned from a quadriceps injury.

Davis was a volunteer high school coach this time last year, getting re-signed by the Rams after Bradford’s first season-ending knee injury. So it’s still a nice rags-to-riches tale, but with a body of work to analyze.

“We’ve really we’ve got as much tape on him as we would have if the other guy had still been the quarterback,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “So, it’s really not a whole lot different than any other week.”

The Rams (1-3) are a lot more concerned about solving the 49ers’ defense than Davis performing on national TV.

“It’s just the next challenge, the next chapter,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “It’s just obviously a very good defense.

“Again, he doesn’t have to do it by himself, we have to do it as a team.”

The game plan won’t change much, if at all, to account for San Francisco’s strengths. Running back Zac Stacy is probable coming off a calf injury that sidelined him last week and Benny Cunningham also been effective.

“They’ll certainly make some plays, they always do,” Schottenheimer said. “They will be tough stretches I’m sure. This is probably an elite defense, but we’ve played some good defenses.”

For a change the 49ers didn’t beat themselves last week, committing just two penalties for 10 yards last week.

Penalties remain a season-long concern for the Rams, who’ve also made enough critical mistakes to put a damper on hopes Fisher’s third season will be the long-awaited breakthrough.

The defense has been a puzzlement, prone to giving up big gainers and limited to a single sack despite aggressive schemes under new coordinator Gregg Williams.

There’s enough on his plate that Fisher isn’t paying much attention to the 15-year anniversary recognition of the 1999 Super Bowl team. The team was honored at a function Sunday night and will be the focus of halftime Monday night.

“I’m actually thinking about the 49ers,” Fisher said. “I’ve been here for a few years now. I’m reminded on a daily basius inside the building, so I’m used to it now.”

___

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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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