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McCarthy and Packers look to regroup

By WTOP Staff

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — While they received relatively good news on the injury front Friday, the Green Bay Packers still must fix all that went wrong during a season-opening loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Friday that starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga escaped major damage to his surgically repaired left knee. He said running back Eddie Lacy, who suffered a concussion late in the Packers’ 36-16 loss on Thursday, had already passed one of the initial post-concussion tests.

Still, from shoddy tackling to poor communication from the sideline to an uneven performance from what was supposed to be one of the NFL’s top offenses, McCarthy acknowledged that there is much to be done before the team’s next game on Sept. 14 against the New York Jets at Lambeau Field.

“Everybody puts so much into the opener. We understand that,” McCarthy said, one day after the defense gave up 398 yards, including 207 yards rushing, to the Seahawks.

“We’ll take a hard look at everything, we’ll correct it, but (then) we will move onto the Jets. This is not a one-game season.

“We’re not going to sit here and dwell on it. Trust me, I get the disappointment. I felt very good going into the game. But I had to go back and check my preparation, because I think anytime as a coach when you feel your team’s prepared and they don’t perform, I think the first guy you have to look at is yourself and look in the mirror. That’s what we spent a lot of time doing today.

“We’re not making crazy changes. We don’t feel that’s the right answer. We have a program, we have a process and I promise you our team will be better this coming week against the Jets.”

It would help if they have both Bulaga and Lacy on the field. Bulaga, who missed all of last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a team scrimmage at the start of training camp, was rolled up on during the first half against the Seahawks and did not return.

With Bulaga out, the Packers turned to 2011 first-round pick Derek Sherrod, who hadn’t played a meaningful snap in regular-season play since a career-threatening leg injury in December 2011.

Sherrod gave up two sacks — one by Cliff Avril on a critical fourth-and-5 play from the Seattle 41-yard line midway through the third quarter.

And then another by Michael Bennett that resulted in a sack and fumble that Sherrod recovered in the end zone for a safety. He was also pushed into quarterback Aaron Rodgers on a 2-point conversion failure.

McCarthy said Bulaga wants to give it a go when the Packers return to practice on Wednesday, but if he can’t go against the Jets, McCarthy said Sherrod would get the start.

“I think Derek will play better than he did this week,” McCarthy said. “There’s some things that we weren’t totally in tune with (as a group). That first sack, we had a protection call there that everything wasn’t done correctly so Avril was able to get the edge there.

“The second sack, you know, really, we were playing uphill there. That’s something that we could probably do a better job of as we move forward.”

But on defense is where the Packers must do significantly better. After working on a 4-3 look all offseason and throughout training camp, McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers unveiled it against the Seahawks, and it was ineffective.

Traditionally a 3-4 team, the Packers lined up outside linebackers Julius Peppers and Mike Neal as defensive ends, played 3-4 ends Datone Jones and Mike Daniels inside and then had three more linebackers — A.J. Hawk, Brad Jones and Clay Matthews — completing the front seven.

Most of Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch’s 110 yards rushing came against that set.

“We’re doing things that are best suited for our players,” McCarthy said of the scheme change. “Now, some of the things we did, did not get off to a good start as far as wins and losses with the particular personnel groups. (But) it’s one game. We have a big commitment (on defense). We’re going to continue to do the things our players do best. That’s what coaching is.”

McCarthy also said the coaches bear some responsibility for the poor defensive performance, including on Lynch’s 9-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, when the Packers only had 10 men on the field because nickel back Casey Hayward was on the sideline.

“We’re fine. There’s no need for any panic right now,” Peppers said. “It’s one game. I am not dismissing the fact that we got beat pretty soundly. (But) it’s one game.”

And as of now, that one game has left the Packers with a lot of room for improvement.

“I mean, you are what you are,” McCarthy said. “And after one game, we’ve put out there our performance and our next opponent will stress us in those areas that we did not perform very well in.”

___

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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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