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Colts add new no-huddle look to strong offense

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Luck has a few new wrinkles for opponents this season.

He has three receivers with 1,000-yard seasons on their resumes. He has two pass-catching tight ends, two running backs with workhorse pedigrees and now he’s implementing a no-huddle offense, too.

It’s just the natural progression for one of the game’s best young quarterbacks, a move that could create all sorts of mismatches and help the Colts take the next step in their Super Bowl chase.

“I think it’s great when the time calls and the situation calls, it puts pressure on the defense,” Luck said. “Obviously it makes us tired, but hopefully it’s making them tired as well, or maybe more tired. I think the fast tempo, you can sustain a little momentum with it.”

Over the past two seasons, Luck has provided all the momentum the Colts needed.

Since his arrival, Indianapolis has completed one of the greatest one-year turnarounds in league history, been to the playoffs twice, won its first AFC South title without Peyton Manning and produced the second-largest playoff comeback in league history.

The glaring omission from that list is a Super Bowl title, something Luck & Co. hope to rectify in 2014.

“We know what the outside expectations are, but we have our own,” coach Chuck Pagano said. “We’re chasing that Lombardi (Trophy) and that’s our goal.”

The Colts have a myriad of reasons for optimism.

They have slowly surrounded Luck with more playmakers and a defense that seems to be getting comfortable and finding players who better fit Pagano’s 3-4 system. They have improved their special teams coverage units and their return game. Now they’re giving Luck a chance to install some of the offense and change tempos at will, as was the case with Luck’s predecessor, Manning.

And Luck can already see a difference.

“Absolutely the execution gets better,” he said. “I think you have the ability to do more with it the more you do it. I guess everything should get better the more you do it. But you can tell guys are more comfortable with it, absolutely.”

Will that be enough to leapfrog perennial AFC favorites Denver and New England? Perhaps.

“We won the division, we won a playoff game, and now it’s just a question of trying to get deeper,” Colts owner Jim Irsay said.

Here are some other things to watch with the Colts in 2014.

DE-FENSE: Things are changing in Indianapolis. After switching from the 4-3 to the 3-4 in 2012 and finding a handful of new starters last season, the Colts have added linebacker D’Qwell Jackson and defensive lineman Arthur Jones this year, and they have given this defense a more aggressive look. If this confident bunch can complement Luck’s already potent offense, Indy (11-5) just might have the right combination.

LINE DANCE: Indy’s offensive line is already off to a rough start. Starting left guard Donald Thomas will miss the entire season with a torn right quad. Starting center Khaled Holmes sprained his right ankle on the first series of the preseason opener and hasn’t returned yet. Second-round pick Jack Mewhort is contending with a sore right knee and seventh-round pick Ulrick John is expected to miss substantial time with a lower right leg injury. So the Colts have had to mix and match — much as they did last year. Health will be a major factor in whether the Colts can add the ground game they need to help Luck.

RICHIE RICH: Nobody faces more scrutiny this season than running back Trent Richardson. The Colts traded a first-round pick to Cleveland last year to get the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2012. But Richardson’s struggles were so glaring, fans wanted him benched. Eventually he was, and now that he’s had a full offseason to learn the system and work with his teammates, the Colts expect much more from Richardson in 2014.

COMEBACK CITY: Tight end Dwayne Allen missed 15 games with a hip injury last season. Perennial Pro Bowl receiver Reggie Wayne missed nine with a torn ACL. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw missed 13 with a neck injury, and reigning sacks champ Robert Mathis will miss the first four games this year after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. If all four return to their normal levels, the Colts should be significantly improved.

SCHEDULING MATTERS: Some years, everything seems to fall in place and this could be one of them. Not only do the Colts play in the NFL’s only division that didn’t produce at least two .500 teams last season, they have four games against the NFC East and four more against the AFC North. That makes the Colts schedule the easiest in the NFL.

___

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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