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Bengals’ offense wants to have a hard edge

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict has felt a difference in the Bengals offense during training camp: It’s leaving a mark.

Intent on running the ball a lot more, Cincinnati has been trying to hone more of an edge to its offense. First-year coordinator Hue Jackson wants it to take the field with an attitude.

Burfict has noticed.

“They’re more physical,” Burfict said. “I’m a little more sore this year.”

That’s what Jackson was hoping that everyone feels.

The Bengals have made it to the playoffs each of the past three seasons on the strength of their defense, which has finished in top seven in the league each of those years. Cincinnati ranked No. 3 overall in yards allowed last season.

The offense has improved in each of quarterback Andy Dalton’s first three seasons, moving up from No. 22 to No. 10 last season. But most of that is linked to the passing game, which gained more prominence as Dalton matured.

Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden got the head coaching job in Washington after the season. Jackson was promoted to coordinator and made it clear the Bengals would run the ball more — they’ve finished 19th, 18th and 18th in rushing the past three seasons.

He’s been trying to foster a hard-edged attitude on an offense known more for A.J. Green’s acrobatic catches.

“Running the ball is the dirty part of the game,” Jackson said after practice on Tuesday. “It’s not the pretty part. Throwing the ball is the pretty part. So sometimes guys have got to like it rough and our linemen have got to like it that way and the backs like it that way or you can never have that kind of an identity.”

And what exactly is that identity?

“Being very aggressive,” Jackson said.

So far, they’ve done that. There have been several shoving matches during training camp, and no backing down.

“I feel like they feed off of us,” Burfict said. “We bring a little bit of feistiness, and I can tell that they’re bringing it as well. It’s a good competition. If I compete at a certain level, the guy in front of me going is going to do the same thing.

“Hue gives them a lot of confidence. Hue has a little (loud) mouth. He even has Andy talking a little bit now. He’s rubbing off on them.”

Dalton got a six-year contract extension on Monday that shows the team’s commitment to him as a leader. Dalton has gotten the Bengals to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons, only to have some of his worst games while going 0-3 in the postseason.

Jackson thinks that a reliable running game will take some of the pressure off Dalton this season. And Dalton is taking on a more vocal leadership role as part of the offense’s evolution.

“The intangibles, the leadership, how you get other guys to respond to you — it’s all part of it,” Dalton said. “My goal and my job here is to get 10 other guys on the offense to play better around me and to play to their best potential.”

Notes: The Bengals open their preseason on Thursday at Kansas City. Coach Marvin Lewis said on Tuesday that offensive tackles Andrew Whitworth and Andrew Smith, tight end Jermaine Gresham and receiver Marvin Jones are among those who won’t play. All were limited by injury early in camp, setting them back. … Dalton will get a series or two with the starting offense.

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

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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