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Peppers adjusts to 3-4 defense with Packers

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Standing a sturdy 6-foot-7, Packers pass rusher Julius Peppers poses an imposing sight to opposing linemen even without pads.

Good thing Green Bay’s front five only has to go up against Peppers in practice now.

The eight-time Pro Bowler is spending his first training camp in Titletown after joining the Packers as a free agent in the offseason following four seasons with the division rival Chicago Bears. The lure of playing in a 3-4 defense that also features linebacker Clay Matthews helped lure Peppers north to Green Bay.

“It is a new challenge and I’m looking forward to not only proving to myself that I can do it, but proving to the outsiders who don’t think I can do it,” Peppers said Monday after the Packers practiced in pads for the first time.

When last seen at Lambeau Field on Nov. 4, Peppers was wreaking havoc on a Packers offense that had just lost quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a collarbone injury. He picked off a short pass by backup quarterback Seneca Wallace, and later sacked Wallace to help snap Chicago’s six-game losing streak to Green Bay with a 27-20 win.

“Just the physical stature that Julius has, I mean that alone is intimidating enough for an offense,” right guard T.J. Lang said. “Every time you look at the guy, you’re just as equally impressed as the first time you’ve seen him. He’s just a freak.”

One who has 118 1/2 sacks since entering the league in 2002, ranked 17th in NFL history. But Peppers recorded just seven sacks last season, the fewest for him since 2007.

He became a salary cap casualty in Chicago, which may explain Peppers’ need to prove himself again in his 13th NFL season.

“Well, it’s not about really proving anybody wrong. It’s about accomplishing some personal goals, one of which being is winning a world championship. That’s the main thing,” Peppers said.

For the Packers, Peppers punches up a defense that lacked enough playmakers last season, especially with Matthews sidelined for much of the year with a right thumb injury. The long-haired linebacker is a full participant again in camp following a second surgery in the offseason.

The ideal scenario for coach Mike McCarthy might find Peppers and Matthews charging from opposite ends of the line to get the quarterback, though don’t expect Matthews and Peppers to just remain on one side or the other. The first few days of camp has the duo moving around the field, one of McCarthy’s tweaks to a defense that sagged in the second half in 2013.

“I think we’re all about taking advantage of mismatches, but any time you could add someone of Peppers’ caliber to the line, who gets after the quarterback and has a proven sack record, it definitely helps,” Matthews said. “At the same time, the same is expected of me no matter where I’m at in the line, whether it’s left, right, in the middle.”

Just to be clear, though, this is no fad defense where Peppers will primarily be used to cover the flat.

“He’s here to go toward the quarterback, we all understand that,” McCarthy said. “But when he does drop he has great ability and range.”

It’s something he didn’t do much while with the Bears. But Peppers said he’s getting more comfortable with the task — it’s just a matter of adjusting to the learning curve in a different scheme.

“Well, that was one of the things that attracted me to coming,” Peppers said. “A chance to stand up, move around, drop, rush, play in different positions — was one of the things that made me want to come here in the first place.”

Notes: Lang (right shoulder) was limited again in practice. McCarthy said he wasn’t worried about his starting right guard. “Coaches and the trainers just want to take it slow right now,” Lang said. … LB Nick Perry (foot and knee) and LB-DE Mike Neal (abdomen) remained spectators at practice. … Players are off Tuesday, the first off day of camp.

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

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Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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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