Skip to main content

Jaguars seek improved pass rush, more sacks in ’14

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville’s Ryan Davis jokingly rehearsed a sack celebration in the locker room Tuesday, giving fellow defensive end Andre Branch a preview.

The routine included an imaginary cellphone and a selfie.

It drew chuckles from Branch and nearby teammates. It surely would get an even better reception on the field. After all, the Jaguars are desperate to improve their pass rush — and sack totals — this season.

“Disrupting the quarterback is the most important thing to be able to do as a team,” veteran defensive end Chris Clemons said. “That’s where you can get a lot accomplished. We definitely have the right guys to get after the quarterback. We’ve got guys all over the place that can get it done.”

The Jaguars haven’t gotten it done lately, though.

They have the NFL’s most inept pass rush over the last six years, totaling a league-low 151 sacks while changing players, coaches and schemes. Jacksonville has 17 fewer sacks than the next closest team, Tampa Bay, and more than 100 behind NFL leaders Minnesota (259) and Pittsburgh (252).

Second-year head coach Gus Bradley and defensive line coach Todd Wash believe the unit is better equipped to create more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They point to better talent and more depth across the front, and more experience in the secondary’s aggressive, bump-and-run coverage scheme that’s designed to disrupt timing between quarterbacks and receivers.

“I think we’ll disrupt the quarterback more than we did last year,” Wash said.

The Jaguars have failed so many times in recent years to generate more pressure.

They whiffed by drafting defensive ends Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves in the first and second rounds, respectively, in 2008. They got even less out of free agent Aaron Kampman, who signed a four-year contract worth $25 million in 2010 but never fully recovered from tearing ligaments in both knees.

They used their top four draft picks on defensive linemen that same year, but none of them panned out.

They even brought in the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player (John Chick) with the hope that he could find similar success in the NFL. Chick finished with 2 1/2 sacks in 19 games — not bad for the Jaguars.

The team’s last player to record double-digit sacks was Bobby McCray in 2006.

Sure, sack numbers can be overrated. But pressuring quarterbacks and making them uncomfortable in the pocket are keys to defensive success in the NFL these days.

Players and coaches point out all the moving parts in the process: stopping the run, pushing the pocket from the middle, covering receivers and getting help from the offense. The Jaguars struggled to do those last season, thus ranking 27th in the league in total defense.

General manager Dave Caldwell responded by overhauling the line. He gave Clemons a four-year, $17.5 million deal just days after he was released by Super Bowl champion Seattle. He signed former Seahawks defensive end Red Bryant to a four-year, $19.5 million deal. He also brought in former Pittsburgh nose tackle Ziggy Hood and drafted Arkansas pass rusher Chris Smith in the fifth round.

Throw in holdovers Davis, Tyson Alualu, Sen’Derrick Marks and Roy Miller, and Jacksonville feels like this could be a sack-filled season.

“This is the best talent I’ve been around since I’ve been in Jacksonville,” said Branch, a second-round draft pick in 2012 who has seven sacks. “We’re two-deep across the board, maybe three-deep at certain positions. They’re expecting a lot out of us and we’re going to hold ourselves to a high standard.”

The standard has been pretty low in recent years. With Clemons, Bryant and others, the bar could be raised in 2014 and sack celebrations could become common.

“Once we get this group together and gel, and get everybody moving on the same accord, it’s going to be awesome,” Clemons said. “It’s going to be something to watch.”

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote