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Broncos backfield wide open behind Montee Ball

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning has thrown 100 touchdown passes in his two seasons in Denver. Although the five-time MVP has another group of tantalizing targets with the additions of Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer, the Broncos want more balance in 2014.

With 1,000-yard rusher Knowshon Moreno going to Miami, second-year pro Montee Ball takes over as the Broncos’ starting running back.

After that, it’s anybody’s guess.

C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman could move up the pecking order or they might be unseated by one or more of the college free agents who signed with Denver after the Broncos chose not to draft a running back.

“Right now it’s an open competition for that spot, for all those spots,” offensive coordinator Adam Gase said. “So, we need to see who is going to be the guy to step up.”

Although general manager John Elway might still sign a veteran back this summer, he added an intriguing list of undrafted free agents this month:

–Kapri Bibbs, who ran for a school-record 1,741 yards and an NCAA-leading 31 TDs in his lone season at Colorado State.

–Brennan Clay of Oklahoma.

–Juwan Thompson of Duke.

–And Jerodis Williams, who went to training camp with the Minnesota Vikings last summer.

Hillman, a third-year pro, might be on the thinnest ice of any incumbent Broncos player. He has frequently found himself in the coaches’ doghouse. He began last year as the starter but had two fumbles that were returned for TDs in the preseason and slipped so far down the depth chart that by midseason he was mostly a game-day inactive.

He has a clean slate from Gase and running backs coach Eric Studesville.

“We’ve talked to him, Eric and myself, as far as, ‘Hey, this is a new start to the year. Whatever happened in the past, you’ve got to build off it. We’ve just got to start over,'” Gase said.

Another slip-up and there’s plenty of running backs ready to take his spot, including Clay (5-11, 201) whose vision, burst, balance and footwork made for an impressive showing at the Broncos’ rookie minicamp last weekend.

Clay could end up being the speedster Hillman was supposed to be for the Broncos before injuries and maturity issues held him back the last two seasons.

As Ball can attest, the biggest thing for a rookie running back to do in Denver is to pick up the blitz first, then the first down, and pass protection is where Thompson, a powerful all-purpose back who packs 225 pounds on his 5-foot-11 frame, could have the edge.

Thompson also has a head start because he’s from Duke, where Manning has gathered with his receivers each of the last two springs for a jumpstart on his offseason work under the watchful eye of Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe, who was Manning’s offensive coordinator in college and remains one of his closest confidants.

“I was able to see those guys, see their practice habits, see how it correlated back to Denver,” Thompson said.

Thompson has fresh legs, too, as he wasn’t nearly the workhorse in college that Bibbs, Williams and Clay were. He was one of six Duke running backs with at least 60 carries last season, running 64 times for 348 yards and one TD.

“But at the end of the day we had one goal and that was just winning,” Thompson said. “I had to put that selfishness in the backseat so we could have that record we had.”

Duke won a school-record 10 games and its first ACC Coastal Division title, climbed into the AP Top 25 and made consecutive bowl trips for the first time in program history, losing to Texas A&M in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Cutcliffe’s share-the-load philosophy is similar to the Broncos’ approach, and just who will be getting the carries after Ball, who ran 120 times for 559 yards as a rookie behind Moreno, will be sorted out over the next three months.

“At the running back spot, it’s hard to just have one guy and say, ‘Hey, we’re going with him for 350 carries,'” Gase said. “It’s really not what we’re looking for.”

___

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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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