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Titans defensive tackle happy with Horton’s scheme

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jurrell Casey was worried when he first heard the Titans would be switching away from the only defensive scheme he’s ever played. Now that he’s gotten a good look at what coordinator Ray Horton has planned, the tackle couldn’t be happier.

For good reason too.

His position coach believes Casey can do even better than last year when he had a career-best 10 ½ sacks.

“That’s outstanding, but it’s not like his career year in my opinion,” Titans defensive line coach Giff Smith said Monday. “That’s a start. It’s a benchmark, and it’s a heck of a benchmark. But we can get higher than that by fine-tuning some techniques and putting him in more one-on-one situations because he does have the ability to win.”

Casey was concerned because the 6-foot-1, 305-pound tackle has played in a 4-3 defense with four down linemen and three linebackers going back to college at Southern California and to high school. But Horton also plans to mix in some 3-4 schemes with three linemen putting their hands on the ground and four linebackers. Traditionally, tackles are required to grab a couple blockers and let linebackers make the big plays.

Smith already was very familiar with Casey even before new Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt hired him to coach the defensive line in Tennessee. Smith previously coached in Buffalo working with Kyle Williams, who also had 10 ½ sacks in 2013. When Casey got his first chance to visit with Smith, that’s when the assistant coach dispelled the concerns that the tackle wouldn’t be allowed to sack quarterbacks anymore.

“I’ve coached 3-4 and 4-3, and I was able to explain to him that believe it or not, he’s going to have more one-one-one situations out of our spacing than he did in a 4-3,” Smith said.

That’s good for Casey, who is going into the final season of his rookie contract.

“It’s a great scheme,” Casey said. “It’s something I’m looking forward to going out there and lighting it up against another team already to put it to use. On my behalf, the scheme that we got going in is putting me in great situations to go out there and win one-on-one battles. The thing is to get everybody across the board one-on-one battles, and this scheme is doing that already.”

Nobody on the Titans was close to Casey and his 10 ½ sacks. Defensive end Ropati Pitoitua and linebacker Zach Brown each had four sacks, and the Titans finished with 36 sacks good enough to tie for 21st in the NFL. Tennessee went 7-9, and coach Mike Munchak lost his job along with defensive coordinator Jerry Gray.

Horton and Smith are among five new assistants on defense, and Casey said he has embraced the change personally knowing this may help him down the road. He also thinks the change is good for Tennessee, which hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2008 or won a postseason game since January 2004.

“As a team, I just felt it was time for something new,” Casey said. “We knew we have been doing the same old thing, and it hasn’t been working. So to get something new out here, let’s try it out. Why not? If it isn’t going to help, we really can’t do worse than what we have been doing.”

Notes: Coach Ken Whisenhunt said left guard Andy Levitre and center Brian Schwenke, both recovering from surgeries, continue to progress. Whisenhunt said everyone is expected to be ready for the start of training camp. That includes RB Shonn Greene, recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Whisenhunt said the important thing is that Greene got his knee fixed.

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Online:

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

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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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