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Redskins’ best player might be their punter

By WTOP Staff

By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) – Here’s one reason Sav Rocca could be the MVP of the Washington Redskins: Thanks to him, they are no longer the NFL’s worst punting franchise of the millennium.

It says something when the punter is a team’s best player, but that’s been the growing consensus this season with the Redskins (4-7). While injuries and inconsistency abound throughout the roster, Rocca’s rockets have become a reliable sight.

“His bad punts,” special teams coach Danny Smith said, “are what we used to consider good punts here.”

It’s one roster move that seems to be working out. The Redskins entered the season having used 14 punters in regular season games since 1999 – not counting placekickers called into emergency duty. They went through three last season alone.

But the 38-year-old former Australian Rules football player has averaged 45.4 yards, enough to propel Washington to 31st in punting average since 2000, ahead of the Atlanta Falcons. Even better, his 41.2 net average ranks fourth in the NFL, and he’s tied for third with 21 punts inside the 20.

The big suspense was whether Rocca could make it through the entire season without a touchback. His bid ended when his 39-yarder found the end zone in the first quarter of Sunday’s 23-17 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

“I was (ticked) with that one on the weekend,” Rocca said. “It was all on me. It was a bad kick.”

Brad Maynard of the Cleveland Browns is now the only regular punter in the NFL without a touchback this season.

At 265 pounds – and used to contact from his Aussie Rules days – Rocca isn’t afraid to lay a lick on someone. His tackle of Arizona Cardinals return man Patrick Peterson in Week 2 is one of the Redskins’ special teams highlights of the season.

“If he has a punt he’s not proud of, he’ll go down there and make the tackle,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “Not too many guys cover who are 265.” Rocca takes personally the challenge of stopping a good returner.

“My mindset going into any game is that I’m against the return man,” Rocca said. “You’re just trying to take them out of the game. Whether that’s (punting) out of bounds, whether that’s high and short and fair catches, it’ll all be mixed up.”

Rocca’s only noteworthy gaffe came in his alternate job as holder, when his bobbled snap led to a blocked field goal in the Week 3 one-point loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

So the debate continues as to whether Rocca might truly be the Redskins’ best player. Asked to weigh in, Shanahan dodged the question and instead gave MVP-level praise.

“He’s been consistent, and anytime you’ve got a guy that can turn the field consistently and kick inside the 20 as much as he has, you’ve got to take your hat off to him,” Shanahan said. “He’s playing at a Pro Bowl level. He’s doing a great job holding as well. I like what we’ve got. … He’s as good as I’ve ever been around.”

Notes: FB Darrel Young remains sidelined from practice with a concussion. He will be tested Friday to gauge when he might return. … S LaRon Landry (groin) and DE Stephen Bowen (knee) also did not practice Thursday.

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Joseph White can be reached at http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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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