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Steelers offensive line strong early

By WTOP Staff

DALE GRDNIC
Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The offensive line has been a sore spot for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the past few years.

However, the group has been injury-free through training camp, and the high draft picks appear to be jelling in their third season together.

The proof is in the pristine condition of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s jersey. Through four series of play during the first two weeks of the preseason, Roethlisberger’s No. 7 is squeaky clean.

“I think they’re doing a good job,” Roethlisberger said. “I think the cohesiveness of that group, they’re going to be hard on themselves. (But) I thought they did a good job, because I didn’t have a grass stain on me, which is usually a good thing from my perspective.”

Roethlisberger isn’t getting ahead of himself. He’s spent most of his career playing behind a patchwork line ravaged by injuries. It’s an issue that’s only gotten more widespread recently.

The five players — center Maurkice Pouncey, guards David DeCastro and Ramon Foster and tackles Kelvin Beachum and Kevin Gilbert — have missed a combined 63 games since the start of the 2012 season.

“Sure, we’ve been together for a few years now, but we haven’t always been healthy together,” said Pouncey, who tore two ligaments in the 2013 opener against Tennessee and missed the rest of the year. “Hopefully, we’ll continue to stay (healthy.)”

Despite the mishmash nature of the line, the Steelers are committed to the group. Pittsburgh signed Pouncey to a six-year extension in June and signed Gilbert to a six-year deal on Tuesday.

Any offensive success the Steelers have enjoyed during the preseason has related directly to Roethlisberger’s commitment to getting rid of the ball quicker. He threw a pair of touchdown passes in a win over Buffalo last Saturday, one on a quick slant that Antonio Brown turned into a 76-yard score the other on a 16-yard pass to Markus Wheaton.

Roethlisberger didn’t need much time to get it to Brown. Wheaton’s touchdown took longer to develop, yet Roethlisberger had plenty of time to throw against one of the NFL’s best defensive fronts.

“It’s still the preseason, so we have to take pride in that,” Foster said. “But we have to keep working hard, because we can’t have him on the ground. He makes a lot of plays when he’s standing up, so we have to make sure we keep him that way all the time.”

Beachum did an excellent job guarding Roethlisberger last year, and he’s off to a great start this season.

“Well, we’ve had some success, but we can’t think about that,” Beachum said. “I need to keep working at it to continue to improve, and each of us feels that way we’re going to continue to get better as an offensive line.”

Foster believed the line has improved its cohesiveness through excellent communication. According to DeCastro, there are other factors as well.

“I’m in the best shape that I’ve been in for the past three years, and I think the same can be said for the entire O-line,” DeCastro said. “I think we’re all feeling good about how things have gone. We’re improving all the time, communicating really well and are very cohesive. But we’re not satisfied. So, we’ll keep working hard each day to try to take our game to an even higher level.”

Notes: The Steelers will be minus several players on Thursday when they visit Philadelphia. … TE Eric Waters (concussion) OL Bryant Browning (dislocated shoulder), CB Shaquille Richardson (knee injury), center Cody Wallace, (fractured finger), LS Greg Warren, (torn meniscus) and LB Jordan Zumwalt (groin) are out. Safety Will Allen (hamstring), RB Tauren Poole, (hamstring), CB Devin Smith (hamstring) and FB Will Johnson (hamstring) are questionable.

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AP NFL websites: 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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