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Sparano puts trust in Raiders rookie QB Derek Carr

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Soon after taking over as interim coach of the Oakland Raiders, Tony Sparano had a simple message to deliver to quarterback Derek Carr: This is your team.

With the team winless and dealing with the aftermath of coach Dennis Allen’s firing, Carr no longer had the adjustment time normally afforded to a rookie quarterback.

In his first game under his new coach, Carr heeded the command and delivered his best performance yet in his first NFL season. Carr threw four touchdown passes in Oakland’s 31-28 loss to San Diego on Sunday. But even the late interception that sealed the defeat couldn’t completely overshadow the excitement Carr has generated as the Raiders’ best hope to end a decade of losing.

“I’m the same person,” Carr said. “I didn’t change who I was. But instead of sitting back and not stepping on toes, he said, ‘It’s your team. It’s your team, take it over. That means you can demand more now. We’re past the rookie step. There’s no more rookie. You’re the leader of this football team. The franchise, here, now go.’ Now I can demand things from guys.”

It helps that Carr is also delivering himself, showing improvement each week as he grows more comfortable in the NFL. Despite playing on a bum left ankle and knee that limited him all week in practice, Carr got off to a fast start against the Chargers.

On the third play from scrimmage, he recognized a disguised blitz and was able to wait in the pocket long enough for Andre Holmes to break free on a double move. Carr then hit Holmes in stride with a perfectly placed deep ball that led to a 77-yard TD, Oakland’s longest scoring throw in five seasons.

Carr found James Jones in a tight window for a 6-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He then went to his third option on a 47-yard score to Brice Butler in the third quarter.

Carr gave Oakland the lead in the fourth quarter when he patiently waited for Holmes to break open in the back of the end zone on a rollout.

Sparano said Carr came to the sideline a few times asking for a certain player to be put into the game so he could run a specific play for him, a sign for growth for the rookie.

“It will be different guys, but in his mind he had a vision for the play,” Sparano said. “He knew what he wanted to do and where the matchup could be. I think it’s really important when a quarterback starts to feel comfortable with his people.”

The game ended on a downer when Carr threw an interception on a deep ball in the closing minutes with Oakland driving for a possible tying field goal or go-ahead touchdown.

With the Raiders just a few yards from field goal range, the coaching staff had enough confidence in Carr to let him take a shot downfield. Carr found a one-on-one matchup with Butler against rookie Jason Verrett down the left side. But Verrett ripped the ball away from Butler for an acrobatic interception that sealed the game.

That could not damper the optimism that the Raiders might have a quarterback to build around for the first time since Rich Gannon’s career ended a decade ago.

“If he sees a matchup that he likes he’s going to throw it, especially if we win on that matchup,” Holmes said. “If we had made a play early on then he’s going to definitely try to look to make another big play by throwing it out there.”

Carr has deep knowledge of the travails for a rookie quarterback on a struggling team. He watched big brother David get battered around 12 years ago as the No. 1 overall draft pick for the expansion Houston Texans.

The beating David Carr took behind a patchwork offensive line stunted his growth and he never developed into a top-flight NFL starter. Derek has gotten significantly better protection, getting sacked just three times on his first 167 pass attempts, compared to 41 on David’s first 167.

“I watched a certain rookie quarterback with the same last name about 12 years ago and I’m glad it’s a little different now because those guys played their tails off,” Derek Carr said of his offensive line. “These guys they do a great job. They really do. They really care about keeping me clean.”

___

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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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