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Williams eager to see his Rams defense play

By WTOP Staff

WARREN MAYES
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Rams believe they have the personnel to be a top-10 defense.

The man to lead them to that goal is defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Williams said Friday after practice he is anxious to see his players on the field.

“Coaches don’t like talking about potential. Coaches like talking about performance and production,” said Williams, who has reunited with coach Jeff Fisher for a second stint as his defensive coordinator.

“These guys have done very well in all of their stops on the road in their careers. The fact that this is a young football team … I think it’s very moldable.

“Now we need to make sure that we’re getting a chance to play and stay healthy and play our way. This is going to be a good test for us.”

The Rams will open their season by hosting the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

The game represents a comeback of sorts for the 55-year-old Williams.

Williams was suspended indefinitely by commissioner Roger Goodell in March 2012 as part of the New Orleans Saints’ “Bountygate” scandal after the 2011 season.

After sitting out a year, the former defensive coordinator and head coach of the Buffalo Bills was reinstated and returned to the league in 2013 as a senior assistant on the Tennessee Titans’ staff. The Titans are Fisher’s former team.

His impact was felt as Tennessee’s defense jumped from 27th in the league with yards per game allowed to 14th.

Williams is coming into a team that was 15th in the league in total defense and ranked third in sacks in 2013.

His track record as a defensive coordinator or head coach in 15 seasons is impressive.

Williams helped win a Super Bowl with the Saints. Williams has presided over five top-five defenses during his career.

Tennessee was No. 1 in 2000. Buffalo was No. 3 in 2001 and No. 2 in 2004. Washington was No. 3 in 2005 and New Orleans was No. 4 in 2010.

Fisher is hoping to see the Rams defense develop like that under Williams in St. Louis.

“We have the ability to do from week to week whatever we want to do,” Fisher said. “The guys have a really good feel for situations. Gregg brings a lot of energy. He’s very well prepared. He’s been in every situation.”

St. Louis’ defense has some top talent. All-Pro defensive end Robert Quinn had a NFC-high 19 sacks last season.

Quinn likes what he’s seen from Williams.

“He’s challenging everybody on the defense. He wants us to excel and to be dominant,” Quinn said. “He wants us to understand all the ins and outs of the playbook. He wants us to know the offense so well that we can predict what they’re going to do. That’s the kind of coach he is.

“He wants you to be so far ahead of the opponent. It makes the game a lot easier.”

Williams’ trademark is his constant chatter. Players are getting familiar with his high-decibel leadership.

Outside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar played for Williams at New Orleans. While noting Williams is subdued compared to his time with the Saints, Dunbar said he had made his presence known.

“He wasn’t so calm in New Orleans but these guys, it’s their first time having to deal with him,” Dunbar said. “It’s kind of a shock to them. I’ve dealt with him before. He’s vocal, but he’s not as wild as he used to be.”

Williams’ chirping took some getting used to, second-year linebacker Alec Ogletree said.

“Every day on the field and in the locker room and in the meeting room, every time you see him you definitely know he’s there,” Ogletree said. “He says a lot of stuff. One day he kept going ‘beep-beep’ and nobody knows what he was talking about.”

Overall, the Rams defense is young. It’s the type of group Williams has worked with in the past and succeeded.

His goal is to do it again.

“Young is no excuse any more. It’s about producing,” Williams said. “It’s about doing things the way we want done.”

___

Online:

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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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