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Eagles’ receivers eager to show their stuff

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Replacing DeSean Jackson isn’t a one-man job in Philadelphia.

Jeremy Maclin returns from missing a season following ACL surgery to take Jackson’s starting spot, but the Eagles are also counting on rookie Jordan Matthews and others to fill the void.

Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowl receiver, was cut by the Eagles after the best season of his career. It was a bold move by coach Chip Kelly, who made it clear he’s willing to part with players who don’t do things his way.

“I don’t think we’re going to miss a beat,” Maclin said. “No disrespect to DeSean, who is a tremendous player, but I’m very confident in our group and I think we’ll be something special.”

They’ll get their first chance to prove it Sunday when the defending NFC East champions host the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Maclin and Riley Cooper are the starters outside. Cooper is coming off a breakout season in which he set career highs in receptions (47), receiving yards (835) and touchdowns (eight).

Kelly disputes the notion that Cooper produced those numbers because defenses were so concerned with Jackson on the other side.

“DeSean was getting man (coverage) on his side,” Kelly said. “I think most people played us in single-high coverage and they played man across the board on anybody and no one was getting any help. No one is going to play us in two-deep because if you play us in two-deep, we can run the heck out of the ball. We had everybody as close to the line of scrimmage as possible and nobody was helping anybody. They were trying to stop the run game.”

Maclin led the team with 69 catches for 857 yards and seven touchdowns in 2012 before tearing his right ACL in training camp last year. He averaged 64 catches, 863 yards and six TDs in his first four seasons.

Matthews takes Jason Avant’s spot in the slot. He is the SEC’s all-time leader in career receptions (262) and yards receiving (3,759). Matthews had 112 receptions for 1,477 yards and seven TDs as a senior.

“You don’t want to get too excited, overhyped because you’re going to start making mistakes that you shouldn’t make,” Matthews said. “I’m just focused on doing my job and making sure I’m in the flow of the game.”

Coaches and teammates praised Matthews for his work ethic throughout the offseason workouts. Fans who saw him practice in camp rave about his skills.

“Jordan did everything we’re looking for in a receiver,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. “He’s good at catching the football. He’s big and physical. He can bump and run. When he catches it, he can run with it. He blocks. He’s smart. All the things we’re looking for.”

Fellow rookie Josh Huff, a third-round pick from Oregon, should contribute once he recovers from a shoulder injury. Tight ends Brent Celek and Zach Ertz and versatile running back Darren Sproles also will help replace Jackson’s 82 catches, 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns.

“I think people forget about Jeremy Maclin, a guy that was very established with DeSean Jackson,” All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy said. “He’s a guy that can spread the field and do all of the intermediate things in the middle. Having him back, he’s healthy and looking good. We have so many different weapons, and we added Sproles, a guy who can do both from the passing game to the running game. You’ll see a lot of him on Sunday.”

Kelly kept things simple with his first-team offense in the preseason. He didn’t show much of his up-tempo offense. Teams saw plenty from the Eagles last year, but Kelly may have more up his sleeve.

“There’s a lot more,” Maclin said. “We didn’t throw the ball down the field at all during the preseason. So there’s a lot more. You don’t show your whole hand during the preseason. The offense is going to keep evolving. We keep advancing. We’re putting in more stuff this year.”

NOTES: Huff (shoulder) and backup OT Matt Tobin (ankle) won’t play vs. the Jaguars. DB Nolan Carroll will replace Huff as the primary kick returner. … RB Chris Polk (hamstring) and CB Jaylen Watkins (hamstring) are questionable.

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

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

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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