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With Allen, Bears expect bigger things from ‘D’

By WTOP Staff

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) — He was the big prize, the sparkling centerpiece in the overhaul, except Jared Allen wasn’t really interested in shining the spotlight on himself on Friday.

When it comes to the Chicago Bears and the anticipated improvement of their defense, he insisted it’s about more than just him.

“It’s not going to be a person,” Allen said Friday. “It’s going to be a collective whole. It’s going to be the energy of each individual and what they bring to the table.”

A five-time Pro Bowl defensive end, Allen brings quite a bit to a defense that ranked among the worst in the league and in franchise history, and his arrival is a major reason why the Bears are aiming higher this season.

The Bears believe they have the defense to back their offense thanks to an overhaul that brought in Allen and several other key players. They believe they can make the playoffs after going 8-8 a year ago and missing the postseason for the sixth time in seven years.

Yes, expectations are soaring in Chicago. And there’s no bigger symbol of hope than the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Allen.

That symbol was out there on display Friday as the Bears conducted their first training camp practice.

Coach Marc Trestman said Allen “set the tone defensively” along with fellow newcomer Lamarr Houston and the returning Jeremiah Ratliff.

“You watch the way they move and run to the ball, they really made an effort to show the guy around them how to do it,” Trestman said. “That was clear through his performance today. (Allen) not only started fast, (he) finished strong.”

The Bears brought in Allen to provide just the sort of spark they missed last season, when a long list of injuries and poor play hurt a defense that usually ranked among the league’s best under former coach Lovie Smith.

In Trestman’s first season, it was a different story.

Key players such as Henry Melton, Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman and D.J. Williams got hurt, and what transpired was simply hard to envision given the franchise’s history.

While the offense thrived, the defense couldn’t stop anyone. Chicago ranked 30th overall and that barely tells the story.

The Bears tied Jacksonville with a league-low 31 sacks, and when they weren’t getting to the quarterback, they weren’t doing much to stop the run, either. They gave up 2,583 yards rushing on 5.3 yards per carry — both club records. But they believe the defense will look more like the “Monsters of the Midway” than the one that was just scary bad.

The Bears have star power with Allen up front, Briggs at linebacker and Tillman and Tim Jennings at cornerback along with enough depth even if there are some concerns. Safety remains one. There are questions at linebacker, too. But there’s a different look, and with that, a belief that the Bears are poised for bigger things.

“I think they understand what last year was,” Allen said. “They understand the injuries and stuff like that. They know every year rests on its own. … I think everybody’s just kind of growing together. They’re excited to get out there and play ball. I think everybody sees the ability and what we have on paper. But that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. You’ve got to go out and you’ve got to make it happen. So we’re excited for it.”

Allen comes in with seven straight double-digit sack seasons and is showing few signs of slowing down. That’s why he’s here and Julius Peppers is now in Green Bay.

While Peppers struggled last season, Allen had 11½ sacks for Minnesota. The Bears signed him to a four-year deal that guaranteed $15.5 million, replacing one star pass rusher with another.

“They do some things similar — how they approach practice,” defensive tackle Stephen Paea said. “That’s how you know these guys are for real.”

Where Peppers and Allen veer in different directions is when it comes to speaking up. Peppers is quiet; Allen is more vocal.

“I’m going to encourage a guy, I’m going to help young guys out if they want it,” Allen said. “But the way I’m going to lead is I’m going to show up to work and I’m going to put my best on the field and I’m going to expect the guy next to me to be his best.”

NOTES: The Bears signed OL Dylan Gandy to a one-year contract and waived DE Jamil Merrell. Gandy has appeared in 120 games and made 19 starts over eight seasons with Indianapolis (2005-07) and Detroit (2009-13). He has played guard and center and contributed on special teams. Merrell was an undrafted rookie from Rutgers.

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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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