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Erratic play has Steelers searching for answers

By WTOP Staff

WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin doesn’t have the patience or the roster depth to make sweeping changes. Besides, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach isn’t sure they’re necessary.

Last Tomlin checked, his team was 3-3 not 0-6, even if it felt that way after Cleveland crushed the Steelers by three touchdowns last Sunday, Pittsburgh’s worst loss to its nearest rival in a quarter-century.

“We are a .500 football team,” Tomlin said. “That’s not something we desire to be.”

Yet, it beats a bleaker alternative. Pittsburgh has been a maddening mixed bag during the first six weeks, flipping between exciting and erratic, often from possession to possession. The same team that trailed 31-3 in the fourth quarter Sunday dominated the first quarter and had a chance to take a two-score lead before fizzling.

“We got to put a more positive, consistent performance on the grass than we’re putting right now,” Tomlin said.

That means there may be some new faces in the huddle when the Steelers begin a pivotal three-game homestand Monday against Houston (3-3).

Rookie nose tackle Daniel McCullers will likely be active for the first time with starter Steve McLendon out with a shoulder injury. And 6-foot-4 rookie wide receiver Martavis Bryant may finally get a chance to provide quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with the big red-zone target the Steelers have lacked for the better part of a decade.

It’s not the way Tomlin would like to get his first-year players into the mix, but borne out of necessity because the veterans are not producing regularly.

Offensive coordinator Todd Haley defended his play-calling in the red zone in a loss to Tampa Bay and a win over Jacksonville, a stretch in which the Steelers passed the ball on 18 of 19 snaps taken inside the opponent’s 20. He leaned heavily on the run against the Browns, including three straight from the Cleveland 7 in the first quarter. The drive ended the same way many others have: with Shaun Suisham trotting on for a field goal attempt.

At least Suisham had a chance to salvage some points. He wasn’t so fortunate the next time the Steelers took a snap deep in Browns’ territory, when a third-and-3 from the Cleveland 17 quickly turned into disaster. Markus Wheaton couldn’t hold on to a Ben Roethlisberger pass that would have given Pittsburgh a first-and-goal. Holder Brad Wing botched the snap on Suisham’s ensuing field goal attempt, and Wing was driven into the ground.

Five plays later, the Browns were in front and the Steelers were left wondering how a team that is sixth in total offense is 23rd in scoring — and sinking fast.

“What I’m looking for is touchdowns,” Tomlin said. “I’ll be up here every week analyzing why we ran or why we passed or why we didn’t run or why we didn’t pass if we continue to kick field goals or attempt to kick field goals. The bottom line is we have to get the ball in the end zone in a more consistent manner when we’re on the short field.”

Enter Bryant — maybe. Pittsburgh took the raw but talented receiver in the fourth round, hoping he would provide the Steelers with a matchup advantage near the goal line they’ve missed since Plaxico Burress bolted for the New York Giants in 2005. Bryant, however, has turned into a bit of a project. Unlike Justin Brown and Darrius Heyward-Bey — both of whom rose above Bryant on the depth chart — he is not a factor on special teams.

Tomlin appears willing to trade a blocker in the kick-return game for a receiver capable of boxing out a defender in tight space, saying “we’ll explore the possibility of utilizing (Bryant) this week.”

While the Steelers are hardly out of it in the suddenly wide-open AFC North, where all four teams are separated by a game, they’re the only team with a negative point differential. When they’re on, they’re good enough to win, if not exactly dominate. When they’re off, they’re barely competitive.

“I think every week (has) urgency now,” guard David DeCastro said. “They all count as the same but at this point we’re tired of winning one (and) losing one. We have to start stacking them.”

___

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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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