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Falcons shift Matthews to left tackle for Baker

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — When the Atlanta Falcons drafted Jake Matthews, they figured he would take over at left tackle someday.

They didn’t expect it to be this soon.

Midway through his first NFL preseason, the Falcons shifted Matthews across the line on Monday to replace Sam Baker, who went down with a season-ending knee injury.

Matthews, the No. 6 overall pick, was expected to break into the league at right tackle, a less-demanding position than protecting quarterback Matt Ryan’s blind side.

Now, the rookie will have to step up to the challenge right away.

“I think the coaches are going to put me in good situations,” Matthews said. “If I keep getting reps, I’ll be ready to go.”

Baker sustained a torn patellar tendon in his right knee during a 32-7 loss to the Houston Texans in a preseason game last Saturday night, hindering Atlanta’s plans for revamping the offensive line.

The team struggled mightily up front last season, a big reason the Falcons ranked last in the league in rushing and gave up 44 sacks, the most in Ryan’s career.

Not surprisingly, the Falcons used their top draft pick on Matthews and signed free agent Jon Asamoah, another instant starter at right guard. Baker, a former first-round pick who played only four games last season because of a knee injury, also was part of the rebuilding effort.

Coach Mike Smith tried to put the best face on Baker going down again.

“As soon as we had confirmation that Sam wasn’t going to be able to play anymore this season, it’s an easy switch,” Smith said. “Jake is a No. 1 pick, the sixth pick in the draft, he’s got left tackle written all over him.”

Former starter Lamar Holmes, who had been listed as Baker’s backup, moved over to take Matthews’ spot on the right side. Gabe Carimi and Ryan Schraeder will compete for playing time as well, though Carimi is banged up at the moment.

“You just flip your mind, get over to that other side, and continue to play fast,” said Holmes, who started 15 games last season — essentially because the team had few other choices — but has yet to show he can handle a first-team job.

The Falcons have no such concerns about Matthews, who played left tackle at Texas A&M and was projected to take over that position at some point in the NFL.

“Jake is comfortable playing both right and left,” Smith said. “I don’t think he’ll blink. We’re not.”

Even so, the newest version of the offensive line got a lot of attention at its first practice together. During one drill, assistant coach Mike Tice shouted instructions while Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff stood nearby, watching intently.

“Look how big a hole you’re leaving with your feet,” Tice barked to a lineman. “Come on, man, details.”

Matthews knows there will be an adjustment period as he makes the switch, especially since he’s only played two preseason games. He’ll have to switch up his footwork to get blocking leverage off his left leg instead of his right.

“It’s almost like going from your right hand to your left,” Matthews said. “But I did them both in college. I feel pretty comfortable on both sides.”

His job going forward it to make sure Ryan feels comfortable with a rookie protecting his back side.

“Honestly, it’s not that big a difference for me,” Matthews said. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well. Whether it’s on the right or left side, I put just as much pressure on myself.”

NOTES: The Falcons officially placed Baker on injured reserve and signed OT Pat McQuistan. The 317-pound McQuistan has played in 72 games with 11 starts over a career that includes stints with Dallas, Miami, New Orleans and Arizona. … Smith said the competition is heating up at nickel back, a position filled the last two years by Robert McClain. Josh Wilson came aboard after starting every game the last three seasons for Washington. Another newcomer, Javier Arenas, will likely get more of a chance to show what he can do in Saturday’s preseason game against Tennessee.

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

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Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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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