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Titans look to fix mistakes after snapping skid

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Pro Football Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Photos of the winning Titans scrolled on two video screens in the hallways at Tennessee’s headquarters again.

The screens were blank the previous four weeks, during the team’s skid. The uplifting images are part of the spoils of winning.

And the Tennessee Titans really needed a lift, no matter how ugly the victory or weak the opponent.

“It felt like a long time,” tight end Delanie Walker said Monday of the Titans’ 16-14 victory over the winless Jacksonville Jaguars. “Walking through the hallways, and we finally got some new pictures up of the game. That just shows we got a ‘W,’ and it feels good. So hopefully we can keep this going.”

Sammie Hill blocked a field goal to preserve the win, and the Titans (2-4) snapped a four-game skid with their first win since the opener. It also marked first-year coach Ken Whisenhunt’s first victory at home, though he didn’t celebrate with a game ball but more with a sigh of relief.

“That was a tough stretch,” Whisenhunt said. “It’s nice to get a win, even though I would’ve preferred it not have been as close as it was. We’re still happy to get it.”

Now the Titans can work on making corrections, and they still have plenty of areas needing improvement. Left tackle Taylor Lewan and running back Bishop Sankey got their first career starts, and backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst started his second game in three weeks.

After failing to protect a 28-3 lead in losing to Cleveland on Oct. 5 in the worst blown lead at home ever in the regular season, the Titans came perilously close to doing it again by managing to hold the ball only 5 minutes, 23 seconds in the fourth quarter. That was after allowing the Jaguars only one possession in the third quarter.

Locker sat out because of his second injury to his passing hand in three weeks. Walker said the issue is simply making plays and protecting the quarterback. The Titans gave up three sacks, and Whitehurst was hit five other times.

“We’ve got to be able to stay on the field, control the clock,” Walker said. “We put our defense out there a lot. … It’s our turn to help them out.”

The Titans forced Jacksonville to punt on its first two drives in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Jason McCourty ended another drive by forcing a fumble at the Titans 10, and rookie linebacker Avery Williamson returned the fumble out near midfield.

Yet the Titans went three-and-out on all three possessions. They tried running all three plays of the last one and wound up going backward before punting again.

Two teaching points will include rookie Marqueston Huff failing to down a punt with about 7 minutes left at the Jaguars 1 when he tried to catch the ball. Veteran linebacker Wesley Woodyard had his arms around a Jaguars tight end but didn’t take him down, and Clay Harbor finished a 20-yard touchdown with 43 seconds left to set up the frantic finish.

Even then, Titans safety Michael Griffin couldn’t catch Jacksonville’s onside kick.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but we’ve made some progress,” Whisenhunt said.

The Titans visit Washington (1-5) on Sunday before hosting Houston (3-3) before their bye. Now that the skid is over, the goal now is getting back to .500 before the second half of the season. Locker still is trying to recover from a swollen right thumb, and Whisenhunt said they are trying to get the quarterback healthy. Whether Locker practices Wednesday remains to be seen.

But Whisenhunt will talk about the chance to reach 4-4 before the bye and give the Titans a chance at some type of reward to provide an incentive.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” Whisenhunt said.

Notes: Whisenhunt said DL Ropati Pitoitua broke a finger on his left hand and isn’t sure if the lineman will miss time. Pitoitua sat out two preseason games after he broke that hand in August and missed a loss at Indianapolis because of an injured knee. … The Titans waived TE Brett Brackett on Monday. He was promoted from the practice squad on Saturday.

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Online:

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

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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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