Skip to main content

Coordinator says Titans’ defense work in progress

By WTOP Staff

TERRY McCORMICK
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coordinator Ray Horton says the Titans’ defense should look totally different Sunday in season opener at Kansas City than in the preseason.

Still, he cautions that the Titans remain a work in progress.

The Titans are switching to a 3-4 defense, something Horton says could take several weeks to refine. If the preseason was any indication, that assessment is correct. Tennessee allowed touchdowns on the opening drive of all four preseason games and did not intercept a single pass or force one fumble.

“I don’t want to put a timetable on it, but typically it takes about eight games for them to go, ‘Oh, I don’t have to worry about what I do anymore. I just want to worry about what they do,'” Horton said. “We’ve had a good week of practice with guys focusing more on Kansas City and less on Tennessee, if that makes sense.”

That means that the Titans now are thinking less and reacting more, which should be a good thing.

“We’ve just got to go play. We’ve got to know and understand the defense. This is a new defense for a lot of people,” safety Bernard Pollard said. “We’ve got people in different positions. We’ve just got to react, and that’s hard. We’ve got defensive ends moved to linebacker and have moved some guys around. But if we communicate, this thing is going to be cake.”

The Titans feature only two new starters in linebacker Wesley Woodyard and cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson. Derrick Morgan and Kamerion Wimbley now are outside linebackers rather than pure defensive ends as they were in the 4-3 the Titans ran previously.

Still, Pollard cautions it will take time to come together.

“If you’re expecting us to come out and look like the 2005 Steelers, who led the league in everything, we’re not going to be that the first game,” the safety said. “We will be a work in progress. We are getting better. The players are more focused than they have been the whole offseason. You’ll see the improvement. But are we going to shut Kansas City out? I don’t think we will.”

No one had a bigger change to make than Morgan, the team’s 2010 first-round pick. Morgan has been a 4-3 pass rushing end for his first four years in the NFL but now is being asked to drop back and cover tight ends and running backs on passing routes.

Morgan says he feels comfortable but acknowledges it’s been a big learning process. He points out he’s had his hand down on the ground the past seven or eight years. He credits linebackers coach Lou Spanos and the other linebackers with being patient with him.

“I was really the only 4-3 end that was coming in,” Morgan said. “Kam was, but he’s been a linebacker for the majority of his career. There would be times in the offseason, we’d be going over route concepts, and they’d kind of be skipping through going from A to Z real quick. And I was like, ‘Hold on, can we go back on that real quick.'”

The Titans certainly hope so.

Notes: Fullback Jackie Battle (shoulder) and quarterback Charlie Whitehurst (right pinkie) both practiced fully and will be probable for Sunday. Defensive lineman Mike Martin (hamstring) will be questionable. Martin missed all of preseason with his injury.

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote