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McCarthy changing things up for Packers camp

By WTOP Staff

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Going into his ninth year coaching the Packers, Mike McCarthy isn’t averse to changing things up.

After two injury-filled seasons, an alteration is coming to how Green Bay prepares for games.

The practice schedule is changing, with players getting an off day, then running through practice the day before a game. That’s the reverse of how things were done last season.

“This is the first time the schedule is changing in nine years,” McCarthy said Friday as the Packers reported to camp. “This is the third year we’ve talked about it. I decided in spring to take the leap. We really just want to get that right and get our guys ready.”

McCarthy described it as a philosophical change. It’s another noticeable tweak following a 2013 season in which the Packers finished 8-7-1 and won a third straight NFC North title before losing at home in a wild-card game to the San Francisco 49ers.

Last season will also be remembered for the swath of injuries that hit the team, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ broken collarbone and linebacker Clay Matthews’ broken right thumb.

This offseason, McCarthy also decided to cut down the playbook a little, particularly on defense, in what he has dubbed a “more personnel, less scheme” plan. The goal there is to have more players available to fill in if necessary, and the potential replacements would have less in the playbook to master.

Now comes this tweak to the schedule, with implementation beginning in training camp. The first practice is Saturday.

“Your goal is to be in pads every day,” McCarthy said. “But really how the team moves through camp — looking back on our last two camps, the things that have gone on, the stress points in camp, where injuries occur, we really haven’t started the way we’ve wanted to the last two years.”

This year already isn’t starting a good note for linebackers Mike Neal and Nick Perry, who were both placed on the physically unable to perform list Friday afternoon. Their injuries weren’t specified, though Perry missed much of last year with a foot injury.

Neal and Perry, however, would be able to take part in practice whenever cleared. Players arrived at camp Friday, when they were to undergo physicals.

Also, defensive linemen Letroy Guion and Jerel Worthy were placed on the non-football injury list, while receiver Jeff Janis was placed on the non-football illness list. Janis was a seventh-round draft pick.

Last season, the Packers were hit by hamstring injuries in camp. One to Casey Hayward hampered the key cornerback all season.

McCarthy also said he was making adjustments to the second part of the camp schedule. He didn’t go into much detail, though he said roster decisions would go down to the final preseason game, as usual. This year, that game is Aug. 28 against Kansas City.

The Packers have new workout facilities. McCarthy said he likes how his team emerged from the offseason program and gives a lot of credit to the veterans.

Since the new collective bargaining agreement in 2011, “I think this is the first year that I feel like I got it right,” McCarthy said. “There (have) been years prior that I didn’t really quite feel like we were, as far as the way you practice and what you can get done and the reality of what you should be doing versus how you do it.”

The ultimate goal is to play fast, which is a hallmark especially when the Packers are in the hurry-up offense.

Other highlights from Friday:

BACKUP QB: McCarthy isn’t opposed to keeping two backup quarterbacks on the roster behind Rodgers. Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien are seemingly competing for the No. 2 job behind Rodgers. The backup job was a big issue last year following the injury to the normally durable Rodgers.

TIGHT END: McCarthy isn’t aware of a deadline on a decision on free agent tight end Jermichael Finley. He suffered a spinal injury that knocked him out in early October. “Jermichael Finley is a Green Bay Packer in my opinion and obviously he’s going through a medical situation. First and foremost, you just want him to get healthy,” the coach said.

___

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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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