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Falcons keep draft focus on improving lines

By WTOP Staff

GEORGE HENRY
Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are trying to make good on their promise to get tougher on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

One day after using the No. 6 overall pick on Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews, the Falcons chose Minnesota defensive end Ra’Shede Hageman in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night.

Coming off a 4-12 record that was their first losing season in six years under coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff, the Falcons were pummeled on both lines throughout 2013.

The offense ranked last in rushing. Quarterback Matt Ryan was a career-high 44 times and was pressured 203 times, most in the NFL.

Matthews hopes to help reverse those trends.

“I feel real confident that I can do that,” Matthews said when introduced at team headquarters. “I feel real comfortable on the right and left side, so whatever they ask me to do I’m fired up and ready to do it. That’s why they drafted me, and I’m going to prove that it was the right decision.”

Hageman, the fifth pick of the second round, joins a defense that ranked last in third-down efficiency, second-worst against the run and third-fewest in sacks.

The Falcons plan to play Hageman at defensive end. He started his last 26 games at nose tackle for the Gophers.

“I won’t say I’m ready yet, but I’ll take on that challenge,” Hageman said on a conference call. “Obviously with the good coaching staff they have, I feel like I’m in good hands. I’m just looking forward to it.”

Atlanta drafted Wisconsin free safety Dez Southward in the third round even though he was medically excluded from the NFL combine because of spine and wrist injuries.

Southward, a full-time starter in 2012-13, is part of the Falcons’ revamping at free safety after five-year starter Thomas DeCoud was released in March.

Dwight Lowery, signed last month as a free agent, and Kemal Ishmael, a seventh-round draft pick last year, are the other free safeties listed on Atlanta’s roster.

The Falcons have made a heavy investment on the defensive lines during the offseason.

They signed defensive end Tyson Jackson and defensive tackle Paul Soliai in free agency. Atlanta re-signed starting defensive tackles Jonathan Babineaux, Peria Jerry and Corey Peters.

Atlanta’s defense was hampered last year by injuries to linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and defensive end Kroy Biermann. Free safety Thomas DeCoud and cornerback Asante Samuel both underperformed and were released.

Hageman finished 2013 with a career-high 13 tackles for minus-50 yards. The 6-foot, 310-pounder takes as much pride in his vertical jump — 35½ inches — as he does in his ability to pressure the quarterback.

He will compete with Osi Umenyiora, Jackson and Biermann for playing time at end.

“My junior year, I definitely got more sacks, and last year I had to find another way of making plays,” Hageman said. “It’s just the same as getting sacks, so I’m definitely going to use my vertical as an advantage to swat down balls.”

Matthews was seemingly born and raised to play in the NFL.

He’s the seventh member of his family to play in the league. His father, Bruce Matthews, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after 19 seasons with the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Oilers and Tennessee Titans.

Bruce Matthews, at Falcons headquarters on Friday with the rest of his immediate family, said that Jake has a chance to be better than his old man.

“He realizes how he’s been blessed, and he doesn’t want to waste it,” Bruce Matthews said. “He comes in with that attitude and he’s ready to get after it. He’s not joking when he says he’s ready to go to work. He is.”

Smith has talked a lot over the last few months about being embarrassed that the Falcons couldn’t run the ball effectively or protect Ryan last year.

He believes Jake Matthews adds an important piece to a new foundation, though it’s not immediately clear the incoming rookie will play on the left side or right side.

“I think Jake epitomizes what we wanted to address in the offseason,” Smith said. “We wanted to get bigger. We wanted to get stronger. We want to control the line of scrimmage, and when you see the skill set that he shows on tape it just pointed us to him. You don’t even have to spend but a few minutes with him and you know what kind of person he is.”

Atlanta’s rookie mini-camp is May 16-18.

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Online:

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

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Follow George Henry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/georgehenryAP

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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