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Jaguars QB Bortles making strides in backup role

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — There are plenty of signs that Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles is making steady strides as a rookie.

One of the most telling ones came in the third quarter of last week’s preseason game at Chicago.

Bortles got to the line of scrimmage on a second-and-1 play, recognized the coverage, checked from a run to a pass and then found his third option down the left sideline for a 29-yard gain.

Between the pre-snap read, the audible, the in-play progression and the throw, it was a perfect performance by the third overall pick in May’s NFL draft.

“We’re excited about how he has progressed,” offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said Tuesday. “I think it’s a situation now where each day we are just looking for improvement, and he has challenged himself to get better every day. So, really I’m not exactly sure where I expect him to be, so he is doing well for where he is at.”

Despite getting repetitions with the first-team offense in practice this week and a planned quarter of work with the starters at Detroit on Friday night, Bortles remains the backup.

At least for now.

Bortles’ preseason play has earned high praise from coaches, teammates and fans, but it hasn’t changed the team’s belief that he’s a work in progress. General manager Dave Caldwell, coach Gus Bradley and Fisch want to foster a pressure- and expectation-free environment around Bortles that allows him to focus on refining his mechanics, mastering the playbook and making a smooth transition from a college spread scheme to a pro-style system.

“He just has to continue to build and learn,” Fisch said. “He is throwing the ball with a little bit better velocity, maybe using his lower body better. … He keeps getting better in terms of understanding the offense. His knowledge base is improving, so he can play faster, make corrections on the fly and make adjustments.”

Much like he did against the Bears.

Bortles completed 11 of 17 passes for 160 yards in the game, bringing his preseason totals to 18-of-28 passing for 277 yards.

He felt like he took steps forward from Tampa Bay (preseason opener) to Chicago.

“I thought my footwork was a little cleaner,” he said. “There are still some things I need to work on and clean up, but I thought for the most part that’s been a big emphasis on what I’ve been trying to do for a while now. So, I thought it was a little bit better, but I still have a long way to go.”

Playing with and against starters is the next phase of Bortles’ development.

He got about seven snaps with the first-team offense in practice Monday and Tuesday, but will get a bigger test with several series against the Lions.

“Yeah, obviously it’s a little bit faster,” he said. “It’s just a good opportunity to go out there and get that exposure and go see that and get to play against it. In the end, we’re calling the same plays and you’re running the same stuff. It’s just that guys are a little bit faster. You have to adjust to that and get some exposure to it.”

The Jaguars are committed to Chad Henne at least to start the season.

Henne has been solid in the preseason, completing 16 of 24 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown.

Henne has said repeatedly that his job is to keep his job, but he also has welcomed Bortles and offered to help him anyway he can — even though he knows the rookie will replace him at some point.

“We’re just out there trying to help each other out, competing each and every day,” Henne said. “The biggest thing is guiding him along and I just try to help him with the footwork and knowing where to go with the football. He’s done a great job. We’re both humble and that’s what’s great about this position.”

___

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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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