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Washington’s secondary has a problem this year, and it’s not communication

By Peter Hailey

Washington’s secondary has a problem, but it’s not communication originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Last season, as the Washington secondary struggled to contain seemingly every opponent, their go-to buzzword was communication. Everyone, from the corners to the safeties to Greg Manusky, brought up needing more of it whenever they were pressed on why the group was failing.

This season, the back end of Washington’s defense is once again defective, and their effort against the Rams was just the latest proof of that. Jared Goff pretty much accomplished whatever he wanted in the contest and posted completions of 56, 49 and 40 yards, all of which featured players in Burgundy and Gold either trailing well behind Goff’s targets or not even near them at all.

As Ron Rivera discussed what was behind the Rams constantly getting behind his defensive backs — both immediately after the loss on Sunday and during his time with the media on Monday — he, too, repeatedly turned to one word over and over again. It wasn’t communication, though.

“Again, it’s about leverages and understanding how to play the leverages,” Rivera said at FedEx Field following his team’s fourth-consecutive defeat. “That’s what we’re working on with these young guys.”

“Some guys don’t understand how to play with leverage,” he said while back in Ashburn on Monday. “By that, we mean knowing where your help is. If your help is inside, then you should play your guy outside to in. If your help is outside, then you should play your guy inside to out.”

Communication? That’s so last year. In fact, Kendall Fuller, who intercepted Goff on what was really the quarterback’s only negative sequence in Week 5, told reporters in his postgame interview that he thinks “communication has been good so far” in his part of the unit.

Like Rivera, Fuller believes the issue is coming after the snap, not before it.

“We just have to execute every play, every quarter,” he said. “We go through good stretches, and then have some stretches that are not so good.”

So, the guys involved at least have an idea what’s leading to the breakdowns. The 2019 collection did as well, yet they never actually made strides in correcting their key flaw.

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If the 2020 version is also unable to either, these next few months are going to feel longer than the highlights they’re giving up. They’re giving up a ton, by the way.

According to the Washington Post’s Sam Fortier, Washington’s defense has allowed eight plays of 40 yards or more and four plays of 50 yards or more. They lead the NFL in both categories.

While Fuller, Landon Collins, Troy Apke, Ronald Darby and the rest of the DBs aren’t fully to blame for those numbers — Rivera and Jack Del Rio both have spoken to the importance of the pass rush being in unison with the coverage — they are ultimately the members of the roster who get paid to prevent such passes. 

On Monday, Rivera’s patience already appeared to be wearing thin when talking about the mistakes. An offseason of hype about the defense and their season-opening, dominant effort against the Eagles seem like they happened ages ago, especially when hearing and reading quotes from the coach like this. 

“Sometimes it looks like we’re not where we need to be, and that’s the frustrating part because I see that’s something that the coaches are working on, something that the players are practicing, but we’ve got to take what we’re being taught, what we’re doing and transfer that from the practice field to the game field and go out and execute.”

The concept of leverage will surely be at the top of the defense’s list as they prepare for their next chance in New York versus the Giants. Thanks to how truly awful the NFC East is, it’s not too late for them to rectify their troubles with it. 

If Daniel Jones and his mediocre supporting cast light Washington up, though, whatever faith remains in the secondary will disappear.

To put it simply, they’ll have lost all leverage among those who once thought they could help lead this defense to a renowned campaign.

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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