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Lions’ Stafford on the spot under new coach

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

DETROIT (AP) — A new coach, a new system — plus a couple of significant additions on the offensive side of the ball.

That’s what Matthew Stafford has to work with this season, after his Detroit Lions collapsed toward the end of 2013. It would be an understatement to say the pressure is on.

“When you look at successful teams in the NFL, the majority of them are having their quarterback play at a high level,” Stafford said recently. “That’s something that I’ve always tried to do and hold myself to that standard. This season is no different.”

Stafford wasn’t the only Detroit player making mistakes toward the end of last season, but the former No. 1 overall draft pick was particularly erratic.

After missing the playoffs, the Lions fired coach Jim Schwartz and replaced him with Jim Caldwell, a move that set the tone for an offseason in which the organization seemed fixated on helping its franchise quarterback take another big step forward.

In Caldwell, the Lions have an offensive-minded coach who worked with Peyton Manning in Indianapolis, and new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi worked with Drew Brees as an assistant in New Orleans.

Detroit also signed wide receiver Golden Tate and used its first-round draft pick on tight end Eric Ebron. The Lions re-signed tight end Brandon Pettigrew — and of course, Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush are also still part of what could be one of the game’s most dynamic offenses.

Johnson was slowed by injuries last season, but he still caught 84 passes for 1,492 yards. He had offseason surgery on a knee and a finger, and Lombardi is trying to devise new ways to use the star receiver.

“He’s going to move around a lot,” Lombardi said. “You’ll see more motion from him, you’ll see him in different spots, inside and outside.”

The Lions will hope to keep turnovers to a minimum. They lost six of their last seven games last season, and Stafford was intercepted 12 times over that span. Now he’ll be in his first year in a new offense.

“I think for me the biggest challenge this offseason was trying to get a mastery of the playbook, of the new system we have going in,” Stafford said. “That’s what I spent most of my time and effort on, and with that comes new drops and new reads and things like that. So I’ve integrated that in with it. I don’t know if there’s one thing that stands out to me — just trying to be an overall better player.”

Here are a few other things to watch in Detroit’s first season under Caldwell:

SUH’S FUTURE: Ndamukong Suh is entering the final year of his contract, and talks subsided around the start of training camp. Even if Suh has another big season on the defensive line, the pressure will be on the Lions to take full advantage, since there’s a chance they could lose him during the offseason.

STABILITY UP FRONT: Riley Reiff, Rob Sims, Dominic Raiola and Larry Warford all started 16 games last season, and all are back on the offensive line. So is LaAdrian Waddle, who started eight games as a rookie.

Stafford was sacked only 23 times last season.

INSTABILTY IN BACK: Detroit’s secondary was an occasional trouble spot last year, and that was before the team lost safety Louis Delmas and cornerback Chris Houston in the offseason. The Lions signed safety James Ihedigbo, but they’ll also be counting on holdovers Darius Slay and Rashean Mathis to perform in the defensive backfield.

ROOKIE KICKER: For two decades, Jason Hanson handled kicking duties in Detroit with remarkable consistency, but after Hanson’s retirement and a season of David Akers, the Lions are now turning to a rookie. Detroit drafted Nate Freese of Boston College in the seventh round this year, and Freese beat out Giorgio Tavecchio in a preseason competition.

“He’s a capable young man and he’s going to grow and develop and I think you’re going to see him continue to get better and better,” Caldwell said.

CALM CALDWELL: The Detroit sideline will be different this year without the fired-up Schwartz. Caldwell maintains a more even-keeled demeanor, but that doesn’t mean he lacks passion. The Lions are obviously hoping for improvement under Caldwell, but the new coach has stopped short of a complete overhaul.

This is certainly no rebuilding project.

“Be careful of the guy who changes everything or the guy who changes nothing — I think that’s an old adage that’s out there,” Caldwell said. “I’m not going to just change it just to change. To me that’s kind of idiotic.”

___

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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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