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Jackson plans to improve Falcons’ ground game

By WTOP Staff

CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Mike Smith knows his Falcons finished last in the NFL in rushing last season. The coach just has a difficult time saying the words.

“We were a number I don’t even want to talk about in terms of where we were statistically,” Smith said Wednesday, the second day of the team’s organized team activities.

The ugly numbers — 77.9 yards rushing per game and 32nd in the league in rushing — played big roles in Atlanta’s disappointing 4-12 finish.

In his first season in Atlanta, running back Steven Jackson missed four games with a hamstring injury. Jackson said he doesn’t want to be known as the running back on the league’s worst rushing attack.

“Definitely by no means do we want to be known for that and we don’t want to have another year like that,” Jackson said.

A healthy Jackson says the top item on his to-do list is an improved running game in 2014.

Jackson, who will be 31 when the 2014 season opens, ran for only 543 yards and six touchdowns. That ended a streak of eight straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Rams.

The Falcons added competition for Jackson by selecting Florida State running back Devonta Freeman in the fourth round of the NFL draft.

Other important additions for the running game were the first-round pick, offensive tackle Jake Matthews, and free-agent addition Jon Asamoah.

In Wednesday’s practice, Jackson was running behind a first-team offensive line that included Matthews at right tackle and Asamoah at right guard.

Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said he doesn’t believe Jackson’s decline in 2013 was about the running back turning 30.

“There’s enough statistical data out there that there’s something to 30-plus running backs,” Koetter said. “With that said, Steven Jackson is a freak of nature. Because we didn’t run well, everybody blames the running back first. Trust me, as somebody who has studied it a lot, it’s not always the running back’s fault when you don’t run the ball well.

“He always keeps himself in great shape. I haven’t been around a whole lot of guys who do a better job of taking care of their body and staying in shape.”

Koetter said newcomers on the offensive line are “the main thing” for an improved ground game. Mike Tice was hired as the new offensive line coach.

“I think the adjustments we made, the guys we added up front, the addition of coach Tice and my ability to do what I can and stay healthy — I think we’ll be quite all right,” Jackson said.

Smith, who has made “bigger and stronger” the team’s offseason priority, said starting left tackle Sam Baker looks bigger.

“I think Sam is moving around extremely well,” Smith said. “He’s gotten stronger, he’s gotten bigger. I think it’s very noticeable. You look at our team and what they’ve done in the offseason in term of body weight. Body weight is up and fat is down and that’s a positive.”

Smith said there is a renewed emphasis on a strong running game to complement the passing attack led by quarterback Matt Ryan and receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White.

“I believe this: It’s a quarterback-driven league,” Smith said. “There’s no doubt about it. You’ve got to be efficient at throwing the football. You’re going to go as your quarterback goes.

“But there are times where you know that you have to run the football and they know you have to run the football and you’ve got to be able to do it efficiently and effectively.”

NOTES: The OTAs are voluntary and Smith said White needed to miss the workouts to be with his family. White’s brother, 21-year-old Tyrone Moore Jr., died in a South Carolina shooting on May 17. “Our thoughts and prayers are still with Roddy and his family at this difficult time,” Smith said. … Jones, still recovering from foot surgery, did not participate. LB Sean Weatherspoon and S Zeke Motta were on the field but held out as they also continue to recover from 2013 injuries. … Freeman attended a NFLPA rookie event in California. Smith said attendance was mandatory for Freeman and other rookies who were invited. “It was an honor for him to be chosen for that,” Smith said.

___

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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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