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Steelers say they have talent for turnaround

By WTOP Staff

DALE GRDNIC
Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t do much in a blowout loss to Cleveland on Sunday.

But players say they believe they have the talent to turn things around if they execute better and with more consistency.

“We’ve just got to be consistent,” cornerback Ike Taylor said Monday.

“Really, that’s what it is. We have been too inconsistent, and when you’re inconsistent you play good halves and good quarters. But you’re up and down, and that’s what you don’t want to be in the NFL. When we get our consistency back, we’ll start stacking wins.”

That’s something the Steelers haven’t done too often lately.

The Steelers (3-3) have missed the playoffs the past two years, going 8-8 both years. This season, they’ve alternated wins and losses.

The Steelers followed a season-opening win against the Browns with a loss at Baltimore, then bounced back with a win at Carolina.

Another bad loss followed against Tampa Bay, but a win against Jacksonville gave them hope. That diminished with Sunday’s loss at Cleveland.

Splash plays, as coach Mike Tomlin likes to call them, are missing on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, the Steelers can’t get off the field on third down, allowing better than a 35 percent conversion rate.

Offensively, their play in the red zone is lacking as they are 31st in scoring touchdowns. And penalties hamper all three phases.

“Obviously, we’ve struggled with that,” wideout Lance Moore said. “And we’ve settled for a lot more field goals than we’ve wanted to. … I think we’re a team that’s pretty good running and throwing, so I’m not sure that it’s play selection. As players, all we can do is execute what is called.”

Tight end Heath Miller agreed that no matter what plays are called, the Steelers must execute them better and changing what plays are called in the red zone shouldn’t be a concern of the players.

“We’re searching for answers about ways to execute better down there, and we’ll be looking at it again this week,” Miller said.

“(And) all we can do is try to execute the plays that we’re given the best that we can. And that should be the focus in this locker room, to execute better what we’re asked to do.”

So does this Steelers team have what it takes to turn things around?

“The talent is there,” outside linebacker Jason Worilds said. “That’s not the question. It’s more about everybody being accountable and being consistent. I think, for one reason or another, we’ll have a lapse. And those lapses can get you beat.”

___

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

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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