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49ers CBs Johnson, Cox step up after injuries

By WTOP Staff

ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — As a fourth-round pick with nothing more than a fill-in performance on his NFL resume, San Francisco 49ers rookie Dontae Johnson knows what to expect when Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears see him matched up against a wide receiver Sunday night.

“That’s one of those things they say, ‘He’s a rookie. Let’s see if he can play this game,'” Johnson said. “But that’s one of those things that comes with being a rookie. You got to be able to step up to the challenge, step up to the plate and make plays when they’re presented to you.”

Johnson passed his first test last week.

Starting cornerbacks Tramaine Brock and Chris Culliver and rookie nickel cornerback Jimmie Ward left San Francisco’s 28-17 season-opening win at Dallas with injuries. Brock injured a toe, Culliver sustained a concussion and Ward had a head injury.

Johnson and journeyman Perrish Cox entered in relief against Tony Romo and the Cowboys’ prolific passing game. The pair smothered Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams and the rest of Dallas’ wide receivers, playing with smarts and savvy as if they had done it together so many times before.

“It kind of caught me off guard, too,” 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said. “I wasn’t sure because we have different packages. I saw P-Cox come in at certain times I was kind of confused for a second. And then I saw the youngster out there and I was kind of like, ‘What’s going on?’

“And then I realized both our starting corners were down. Those guys stepped up and did a great job, and we’re going to have to count on them again this week to do just as good.”

Johnson spent most of last week on the scout team and had been expected to play sparingly on special teams against the Cowboys, while Cox has proven to be a valuable replacement the past few seasons.

Johnson said he’s approaching this week the way he has all offseason — as if he will see significant time on defense. He was drafted 129th overall out of North Carolina State, where he played both cornerback and safety positions at various points, and his versatility has shown right away with San Francisco.

Johnson had a team-high two pass-breakups in the win at Dallas, and one of the few defenders to outshine his performance was his fellow secondary substitute.

Cox did more than just play the role of a replacement. He had one of San Francisco’s three interceptions against Romo as the defense dominated the day.

“You don’t have to teach puppies how to bite,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Don’t need any training to do that — they know how. I was excited for them, excited for the way the guys played. They did a great job.”

The Bears could present San Francisco’s cornerbacks with an even bigger challenge this week.

Brandon Marshall, Matt Forte, Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett and Santonio Holmes headline one of the league’s deepest and most talented receiving groups. And coming off a disappointing opening loss to Buffalo, they don’t lack for motivation.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he wasn’t surprised by his cornerbacks’ performances in Week 1, though he admitted rookies such as Johnson don’t always perform so well early in their career. Fangio said Johnson “matched” the expectations the team had for him, but he’s far from reaching his potential.

“I think he was going to be capable. I don’t know if it was going to be that Sunday,” Fangio said. “I do think he’s capable emotionally and mentally to do it. Now being asked to do it on opening day of his rookie year may be a bit of a stretch, but he went in there and did very well. Obviously, pleased with that. Hopefully, he grows with that and does not rest on his success.”

NOTES: Fangio said DT Ray McDonald has remained focused in practice and in meetings since being arrested on suspicion of domestic violence Aug. 31. McDonald has not been charged. “I think he’s handled it extremely well in light of the firestorm that’s out there,” Fangio said. … Brock and RT Anthony Davis (hamstring) did not practice, while Culliver was in a blue non-contact jersey.

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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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