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Ron Rivera says he saw what he wanted from Kyle Allen vs. Rams

By Ethan Cadeaux

Rivera says he saw what he wanted from Kyle Allen vs. Rams originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Kyle Allen’s much-anticipated debut for the Washington Football Team lasted less than two quarters before the quarterback was forced to leave the game with an arm injury.

Although Allen attempted just 13 passes on Sunday in Washington’s 30-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Ron Rivera said postgame he liked what he saw from the third-year quarterback and plans to stick with him as the starter as long as he’s healthy.

One day later and after digesting the game tape, Rivera reiterated to reporters on Monday that he liked what he saw from Allen.

“I thought I saw it,” Rivera said, asked if he saw the jump in the offense needed by making the QB switch.

“I thought the scoring drive that Kyle led us on was good. I thought he made good decisions,” Rivera said. “He delivered a good ball for the most part. Unfortunately, the next time we got another drive going he got knocked out of the game.”

Before the injury, Allen had completed 9-of-13 passes for 74 yards and had rushed for a seven-yard TD. The scoring drive was an impressive one and something that stuck out to Rivera.

“That’s what you’re looking for. That’s what you want,” Rivera said. “He did a good job with that. Again, to me, you could say the scramble for the touchdown because he saw man coverage, he saw the defenders had their backs turned, and he knew it was an opportunity to tuck the ball and run. That was a good decision on his part.”

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Rivera had been the subject of plenty of criticism over the past week after he made the decision to name Allen the starter, relegating 2019 first-rounder Dwayne Haskins to the bench. Rivera cited the team’s favorable schedule and Allen’s knowledge of the system as the two main reasons for the switch.

On Monday, the head coach also said he was pleased with Allen’s decision-making. Last Wednesday, both Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner admitted situational decision-making was something Haskins struggled with.

However, three of Washington’s four drives with Allen at QB on Sunday resulted in punts. By the time the quarterback was forced to leave the game, the Burgundy and Gold were already trailing by 13 points.

Allen’s injury paved the way for Alex Smith to make his improbable return to action, playing in an NFL game just 23 months after suffering a gruesome leg injury than was almost life-threatening.

Smith’s feat is nothing short of remarkable, but it also overshadowed what was an otherwise dismal performance from the Washington offense.

The 36-year-old quarterback’s return to action did not necessarily net positive results, as Washington was held scoreless in the second half with -6 total yards of offense. Smith finished 9-of-17 for 37 yards and was sacked six times.

Washington’s offense struggled for much of the afternoon, regardless of who was in at quarterback. The offensive line and icky weather conditions didn’t play in their favor, either, but it’s still no excuse for the lack of success. 

Come next week when Washington faces a winless New York Giants team, the offense must put up points. Or, Rivera’s decision to move on from Haskins — who the head coach said doesn’t envision getting his job back anytime soon — will be questioned even more.

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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