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Panthers unleash Cam Newton in the running game

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cam Newton has given Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers a little more to think about this week when drawing up his game plan.

Newton could be more of a factor running the ball on Sunday when Green Bay hosts Carolina than he was earlier in the season.

After being used sparingly in the run game during his first four starts, Newton carried a career-high 17 times for 107 yards and scored his first touchdown Sunday, helping the Panthers put up a season-high 37 points against the Bengals in a game that ended in a tie. Ankle and rib injuries limited Newton to 42 yards on 14 carries prior to Sunday.

“I’m not going to say he was a 100 percent healthy, but he’s a lot healthier than he was at the beginning of the year,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “He’s feeling more comfortable and confident in himself — and because of that it allowed us to open up our game plan.”

Newton was unavailable for comment Monday, but said after the game he never expected to be that big of a factor in the run game.

The Bengals basically dared Newton to run and the fourth-year quarterback took advantage on designed read options — a play where he fakes the ball to a running back and keeps it.

Newton proved he was feeling better when he kept the ball on a read option and ran through two Bengals for a 12-yard touchdown run.

“When you keep getting numerous yards, you have to keep calling it,” Newton said. “That’s just the simplicity of football. Coming into this game, I didn’t think I was going to run the ball as much. But like I said, that’s my attitude — anything it takes to win, I’m willing to do.”

The Panthers need Newton close to full strength with a tough stretch of games coming up against Green Bay, Seattle, New Orleans and Philadelphia, especially given their injuries in the backfield.

The Panthers have been playing without running backs DeAngelo William and Jonathan Stewart, and fullback Mike Tolbert. Rivera said Williams will miss “a couple of more weeks” with a sprained ankle and Tolbert is out until late November with a hairline fracture in his leg.

Entering Sunday’s game Carolina ranked 25th in total offense, 30th in rushing and 23rd in points scored.

While it’s unlikely Newton carries the ball 17 times every week, Rivera said just the mere threat of having him as an option in the running game will change how other teams defend the Panthers.

“There is now always the threat of him pulling the ball down,” Rivera said. “Now all of a sudden those defensive ends can’t go crashing down and the linebackers can’t start driving at the runner. They have to sit there and read. Now they aren’t getting good jumps to the ball carrier because they aren’t sure who is getting the ball.”

Said running back Fozzy Whittaker: “He’s the leader of the team, the leader of the offense. Whenever he goes, it makes everybody else go. When he’s out there making plays and getting everybody involved, we’re a hard team to stop.”

Newton said he’s not 100 percent, but is feeling better.

Rivera said the team noticed last week in practice Newton was moving a little better and figured he could help out more in the running game.

“Everything pointed to his health,” Rivera said. “I said from the beginning we weren’t going to do anything to jeopardize his health. We took our time and did everything the doctors and trainers told us to do. He did everything he was asked to do. It came down to watching him throughout the week.”

Newton pointed to “getting back to the basics” in rehab last week and focusing on movement and range of motion helped.

He said that worked.

Newton’s numbers were dramatically down this year after rushing for 2,032 yards and 28 TDs in his first three seasons.

“It’s kind of weird,” Newton said. “Now everybody is questioning how much am I going to run, or if I’m going to run, or why I’m not running. When I was running, people were saying, ‘Don’t you think you’re running too much?”

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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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