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Under Arians, rookies bound to get playing time

By WTOP Staff

BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Bruce Arians has no qualms about playing rookies.

So when the Arizona Cardinals opened their rookie camp Friday, a few of the players are on track to see significant playing time right away.

Count first-round draft pick Deone Bucannon, second-round pick Troy Niklas and third-rounder Kareem Martin among them.

Bucannon, out of Washington State and the 27th player taken overall, could be the strong safety in a formidable secondary of Tyrann Mathieu at the other safety spot, with Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie at cornerback.

Niklas, who played at Notre Dame, will be in the mix in the fight for the tight end job, and Martin, out of North Carolina, already has impressed at defensive end, where he could be part of the regular rotation behind Calais Campbell.

Bucannon is trying a bit too hard, Arians said.

“He wants to do everything absolutely perfect,” the coach said. “Even Tyrann said , ‘Man, just play.’ You can’t play perfect all the time. He doesn’t want to make a mistake and you love that about him. … Anytime that you’re the No. 1 pick, there’s a certain amount of pressure that comes with it also you should have all the potential to handle that pressure.”

Buccanon said the biggest challenge has been mentally.

“It’s a big mental jump is the biggest thing from college to the NFL,” he said, “At the same time, if you put in that work and you use the resources that you have and continue to get better and better each day. I’m not there yet, but I’m going to get there.”

Nicklas has yet to practice, still recovering from hernia surgery. He was joined on the sideline by fifth-round draft pick John Brown. The speedy wide receiver, Arizona’s second third-round pick, has hamstring tightness.

Martin has impressed Arians, even though the coaches have had to slow the player down a bit, since the workouts are in shorts.

“We’ve got to slow him down. I’d rather say ‘woah’ than ‘sic ’em,'” Arian said. “He’s around the quarterback way too much, but he’s doing a heck of a job. He’s a little more powerful than I thought he’d be. “

Martin said he’s been practicing with the first team and is learning from the likes of Campbell and Darnell Dockett.

“I’m coming here expecting to play,” Martin said. “Whatever team I was going to go I was expecting to contribute right away. So if I get to play early, it’s just what I expected to do the whole time.”

Under Arians’ system, the team is divided in half, each practicing on a separate field. That greatly increases the attention the youngsters get. Of course in rookie camp, they get all the attention. He credited the latest collective bargaining agreement that allows more practice time for the youngsters.

“We can get so many more reps,” Arians said, “and get them taught so they can play fast. It’s their skill set versus another skill set. I don’t really care, we’re going to play the best guy. I don’t care how you got here, when you got here, if you’re the best guy you’re going to play.”

One player who won’t be on the field is quarterback Logan Thomas, with his strong arm but questionable accuracy.

“When he knows what he’s doing and the guys around him know what they’re doing, he’s pretty good,” Arians said. “The biggest thing for him is as you’re back deciding where to throw, get back there. It takes him too long to get back, then he’s ready to throw but his feet aren’t there.

“He has all the talent in the world. It’s processing information and getting the ball out of his hands. That’s just experience. “

___

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

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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