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Falcons looking for ‘clarity’ at RT, nickel back

By WTOP Staff

CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are looking for starters to emerge at right tackle and nickel back in their final preseason game.

Coach Mike Smith said there is no “clarity” at those spots, though he likes the contenders. He’s also hoping to find his No. 2 quarterback as he holds out some established starters in Thursday night’s game at Jacksonville.

Normally, the focus for the final preseason game is the competition for the final roster spots. Smith said this year’s prolonged battles for starting jobs remind him of his 2008 debut season in Atlanta.

“There are probably as many position battles going on this year as there were the first year here,” Smith said Tuesday. “It’s very similar to that. I think the guys have done a very good job competing, not only on the practice field but for the most part on game day as well.”

T.J. Yates, acquired from Houston in June, and Sean Renfree are competing to be the top backup quarterback behind Matt Ryan.

Renfree, who spent his 2013 rookie season on injured reserve, threw a touchdown pass to Devin Hester last week. He has completed 18 of 32 passes for 216 yards and one touchdown. Yates has completed only 39.4 percent of his passes — 13 of 33 for 195 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Smith has not disclosed his plan to distribute the snaps at quarterback against the Jaguars. If Ryan is held out, it’s possible each contender for the backup job will play one half.

Lamar Holmes has been the starting right tackle since Sam Baker’s season-ending knee injury forced rookie Jake Matthews to move to left tackle. Thursday night will be an opportunity for Gabe Carimi to show he should be the right tackle. Carimi missed the first three preseason games with an ankle injury he suffered in an Aug. 4 combined practice with the Tennessee Titans.

Holmes was thrust into a similar situation as a rookie last season. He started in 15 games, playing both tackle spots, as the patchwork offensive line struggled.

Holmes said Tuesday he’s better prepared for his second season and another opportunity to start.

“I feel 10 times better,” Holmes said. “I mean, I felt good last year, but then again last year I didn’t know what it took to be a professional and what it took to go into this game and to play this game at such a high intensity that you have to bring to the game. I have that year under my belt and I actually understand what it takes to play this game.”

Carimi, a first-round pick by the Bears in 2011, has 19 career starts with Chicago and Tampa Bay. He signed with the Falcons as a free agent and is left with only one preseason game to make his case for a starting job.

“We need an evaluation on Gabe,” Smith said. “Unfortunately he was injured in the scrimmage against the Titans and he’s missed basically all of the preseason, so we didn’t get a good evaluation. He’ll get a look at multiple positions.”

Smith said all three candidates at the nickel back spot used on passing downs will play. Josh Wilson is No. 1 on the team’s depth chart, followed by Robert McClain and Javier Arenas. Smith said the three may rotate by series.

NOTES: RB Steven Jackson, who returned to practice on Monday after missing almost a month with a hamstring injury, practiced again on Tuesday. … RG Jon Asamoah, held out Monday for precautionary reasons, returned. … S Dezmen Southward, on concussion protocol, was an observer and likely won’t play on Thursday.

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

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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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