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Giants looking to end 2-year playoff drought

By WTOP Staff

TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — After missing the playoffs the past two seasons, Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants aren’t one of the morning-line favorites to get back to the postseason.

New offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo and Eli Manning are struggling to get the West Coast scheme in place. It doesn’t look like it will be ready for the season opener in Detroit on Sept. 8.

Manning, who threw a career-high 27 interceptions last season in a 7-9 campaign, has looked uncomfortable in the preseason. The O-line is already reeling with the loss of guard Geoff Schwartz to a dislocated big toe for an indefinite period. Speed at the receiver position has been reduced with first-round draft pick Odell Beckham Jr. fighting a hamstring injury since training camp opened.

Doesn’t sound good.

The positive is the defense.

While the unit lost end Justin Tuck and tackle Linval Joseph to free agency and saw middle linebacker Jon Beason break a foot in minicamp in June, this group has the potential to make the Giants a contender. Especially if end Jason Pierre-Paul reverts to 2011 form after two injury-plagued seasons.

The secondary has gone from a weakness to a strength with the acquisitions of cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Walter Thurmond and Zack Bowman, and safety Will Demps to fit alongside cornerback Prince Amukamara and safeties Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown.

Free agent signee Jameel McClain has played well in the middle while Beason hurries to return. The linebacking corps has benefited from a much-improved Jacquian Williams and a better-than-expected Devon Kennard, a fifth-round draft pick.

Up front, Pierre-Paul has shown flashes in the preseason and the line is deep. Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson are returning at the tackles, Mathias Kiwanuka is back as a full-time end, and there is a collection of solid linemen in reserve, led by an improving Damontre Moore in his second season.

“I think we have the potential to be a Super Bowl championship team,” said Kiwanuka, who was a part of the Giants’ title teams after the 2007 and ’11 seasons. “l am not just saying that. We have all the talent. We have the desire. It’s just about putting it together.

“Changing the offense takes some time and I have been a part of multiple system changes on defense, so I understand what they are going through. But there is no doubt in my mind they will be ready to go.”

If the offense can get on track, the Giants will have a shot at contending for another title.

“Your time in this league is short,” Kiwanuka said. “Your time with your team is short. I think having the team we have right now, this is our time and we have to take advantage of it.”

Here are some things to watch from the Giants:

THE NEW OFFENSE: In replacing the retired Kevin Gilbride, McAdoo has put in an up-tempo system that utilizes quick releases, short, precise routes and high completion percentages. If Beckham ever gets healthy, Manning has the receivers with veterans Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle. The running game also has potential with free-agent signee Rashad Jennings and rookie Andre Williams. The line is the question mark with tackles Will Beatty and Justin Pugh the only returnees.

JPP WATCH: Pierre-Paul is the key on defense. After posting 16 ½ sacks in 2011, back and shoulder injuries dropped his total to 6 ½ in 2012 and two last year, when he played in only 11 games. He played well against the Steelers in the second preseason game, but has not shown much in recent weeks. Heading into his fifth pro season, the Giants need him to step up. When he is good, the 25-year-old can dominate with his speed, strength and athleticism.

NEW KIDS: While Beckham did not play in the preseason, the Giants have to like what they saw from a few of their draft picks. Second-rounder Weston Richburg is going to start at one of the guard positions. Kennard is expected to be the starting weak side linebacker. Williams who led all major college running backs in rushing last season, is a beast, averaging 4.6 yards while scoring two touchdowns. The sleeper of the rookie class is free agent receiver Corey Washington, who has caught a TD in each of the first four preseason games.

SHUT-DOWN SECONDARY: In recent years, the defensive front made the secondary look good at time. This secondary is as deep as any Coughlin has had and has the potential for many more coverage sacks. With Rodgers-Cromartie, Amukamara, Thurmond and Bowman in the lineup, Rolle does not have to become a nickel back in passing situations. That should make him even better coming off a Pro Bowl season.

NO TIGHT END: The West Coast offense needs a tight end and the Giants don’t have A good one. Larry Donnell is the best of the bunch that includes Kellen Davis, Adrien Robinson and Daniel Fells. Don’t be surprised if they claim someone on waivers before the start of the season.

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Online:

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

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Follow Tom Canavan at www.twitter.com/APTCan

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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