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Jets’ Smith was in same spot as Raiders’ Carr

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Geno Smith knows exactly what Derek Carr is dealing with.

First NFL game. First NFL start. First regular-season snap, and all eyes on you.

It’s an enviable position to be in, and one that could set the tone for a season — and maybe even a career.

Smith is making his second straight Week 1 start for the New York Jets, set to square off at MetLife Stadium on Sunday against Carr, the Oakland Raiders’ second-round draft pick out of Fresno State.

“Every guy is going to have a different feeling about it, and a different learning curve,” Smith said. “Whether you’re a rookie or a veteran or whatever, you’re going to have to go out there and do your job. Execution is the name of the game and we have to execute.”

Smith, a second-rounder last year out of West Virginia, was thrust into the spotlight a year ago when Mark Sanchez went down with a season-ending shoulder injury. He threw a TD pass and an interception, and helped lead the winning drive in the Jets’ season-opening 18-17 win over Tampa Bay. He went on to have a roller-coaster rookie season, capped by a solid four-game stretch the Jets are hoping he builds on.

New York gave Smith every opportunity to seize the job, even after bringing in Michael Vick in the offseason. He had a solid summer and the Jets are excited about his future.

“He’s night and day different,” coach Rex Ryan said. “Each guy comes from a different system or whatever, but there was no three-step drop, five-step drop, seven-step drop where he came from. It was very different for him, but this young man has shown a ton of poise.”

Meanwhile, the Raiders tabbed Carr to start the opener over Matt Schaub. A terrific summer sealed it for Carr, who completed 66.7 percent of his passes with four touchdowns, one interception and a 108.2 passer rating.

“I’m just going to continue to be myself,” Carr said. “I’m not going to change. I’m going to be the same person throughout this whole thing. The responsibilities, the stresses and all those things? Those things don’t matter to me. This isn’t stressful. It’s a game.”

Here are some other things to look for as the Raiders and Jets kick off the season:

REX VS. ROOKIES: Deer in headlights. That’s how most rookie QBs have looked against Ryan’s Jets teams.

When facing a rookie quarterback for the first time, New York is 7-1 since Ryan’s first year as coach in 2009. Seattle’s Russell Wilson is the only one to beat the Jets in that situation.

New York is 7-3 overall in games rookies have started in that span, with Buffalo’s EJ Manuel (last year, second start vs. Jets) and Miami’s Ryan Tannehill (left with injury in second game vs. Jets in 2012) the only others to win. Carr will look to add himself to that list of victors Sunday.

NEW TOYS: The Raiders and Jets have several new faces in key places.

For Oakland, there’s running back Maurice Jones-Drew, wide receiver James Jones, defensive linemen Justin Tuck, Lamarr Woodley and Antonio Smith, and defensive backs Carlos Rogers and Tarrell Brown.

Wide receiver Eric Decker, running back Chris Johnson, right tackle Breno Giacomini and rookies Jace Amaro (tight end) and Calvin Pryor (safety) are all set to make their Jets debuts.

CORNERING MARKET: Just a couple of years after the Jets had Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie roaming their secondary, they’ll go up against the Raiders likely starting safety-turned-cornerback Antonio Allen and career backup Darrin Walls.

Dee Milliner, New York’s top cornerback, is still recovering from a high ankle sprain. Dimitri Patterson, the other expected starter, is gone after being suspended following a 48-hour unexcused absence and missing a game during preseason.

Third-round pick Dexter McDougle is out for the season with a torn knee ligament. The only other CBs on the roster are Kyle Wilson, who plays primarily in the slot, and recently acquired Leon McFadden and Phillip Adams.

MEN UP FRONT: Oakland’s offensive line is revamped, with only center Stefen Wisniewski playing at the spot he was at in 2013. Khalif Barnes is the right tackle after playing left tackle and guard last year. Former Jets right tackle Austin Howard is at right guard. Newcomer Donald Penn is at left tackle, while rookie Gabe Jackson is at left guard.

They’ll be going up against a Jets defensive line that’s widely recognized as one of the best in the NFL, led by second-team All-Pro Muhammad Wilkerson and AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Sheldon Richardson.

DANGER ZONE: The East has been more wicked than the West for the Raiders.

They have lost 13 straight games in the Eastern time zone, looking to end that skid this weekend against the Jets. Oakland’s last win in that situation came on Dec. 6, 2009, when it beat Pittsburgh 27-24.

___

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
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