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Trufant, Alford step into Atlanta leadership roles

By WTOP Staff

GEORGE HENRY
Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons need new leadership on defense, and coach Mike Smith says second-year cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford fit the job description perfectly.

“Those two guys we’re counting on,” Smith said Sunday night. “They’ve got to continue to grow from where they were last year.”

Coming off a 4-12 season that ended with their defense ranked last in third-down efficiency, second-worst against the run and third-fewest in sacks, the Falcons still have unfulfilled leadership roles at several positions.

But that’s not the case at cornerback.

Trufant and Alford are showing a healthy dose of swagger in training camp, particularly after meeting expectations as first- and second-round draft picks in 2013.

Trufant started all 16 games, played the second-most number of snaps on defense and ranked second among NFL rookies with 17 passes defended.

One of his biggest games was a 27-26 home victory over Washington in Week 15 when his fourth-quarter interception helped set up Matt Bryant’s field goal and he batted down a two-point pass conversion attempt in the closing seconds.

“We were always confident, but I think we’re just really getting comfortable now,” Trufant said. “We’ve got some new people and we’ve got some people returning, too, so we’re still growing together, but we’re flying around out there. We’re making plays and we’ve just got to keep grinding.”

The Falcons’ defense struggled last year as injuries affected linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and linemen Kroy Biermann and Corey Peters and cornerback Asante Samuel and safety Thomas DeCoud fell out of favor with coaches.

For Alford, who intercepted Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the season-opening loss at New Orleans, Samuel’s demise meant added responsibility, but he says he will always consider his former teammate to be a mentor.

“I started all four years in college, but moving up to the NFL was completely different,” Alford said. “Just coming in and being behind Asante, was just a learning experience for me. Even though I got in and played in some games, watching him and seeing how he prepares — that really helped me a lot.”

The remaking of the secondary, and the rest of the defense, began with Samuel and DeCoud getting released last winter.

Veteran linemen Tyson Jackson and Paul Soliai and safety Dwight Lowery were signed in free agency.

Minnesota end Ra’Shede Hageman was drafted in the second round, safety Dezmen Southward in the third round and linebackers Prince Shembo of Notre Dame and Marquis Spruill of Syracuse in the fifth.

Connecticut linebacker Yawin Smallwood and South Dakota linebacker Tyler Starr were drafted in the seventh.

In their third season under defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, the Falcons will mix 3-4 and their traditional 4-3 alignments in hopes of keeping opponents guessing.

One 3-4 alignment has Jackson, Soliai and Jonathan Babineaux as the down linemen, with Biermann and Jonathan Massaquoi as hybrid outside linebackers-ends.

One 4-3 alignment for passing situations uses traditional ends Biermann, Mallicah Goodman and Osi Umenyiora as down linemen alongside Babineaux, who’s played most of his career at tackle.

With all the changes up front, Trufant and Alford are trying to keep everything steady in the secondary.

William Moore returns for his fifth season as the starting strong safety. Southward is pushing Lowery to start at free safety.

Alford is encouraging Southward and Lowery, saying regardless of who wins the job, the Falcons will be in good shape.

“You’ve got to learn your plays and learn where your help is,” Alford said. “If you don’t have help, you have to learn how you need to play the receiver. It’s studying the guys you’re going against and putting it together on the field.”

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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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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