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Browns don’t want to look like tackling dummies

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Browns punter Spencer Lanning missed a big tackle last week, but at least he had a good reason. He got run over by Steelers returner Antonio Brown, who stomped on Lanning’s helmeted head.

The rest of the Browns had no excuses.

“None,” said linebacker Karlos Dansby.

They were tackling dummies.

Cleveland’s shoddy tackling allowed Pittsburgh to build a 24-point halftime lead, a cushion the Steelers gave up before hanging on for a 30-27 win. The Browns appeared to be playing two-hand touch in the first half, when the Steelers racked up 278 yards on offense and running back Leveon Bell scored on a 38-yard run in which he seemed to run through the arms of every Cleveland defender on the field.

It wasn’t pretty, and as he broke down the tape of his unit’s performance, Browns defensive coordinator tallied the number of missed tackles. Asked for the total, O’Neil refused to provide a figure.

“Too many,” he snapped.

Dansby, who addressed his teammates at halftime along with safety Donte Whitner, said the Browns’ tackling issues were simply caused by physical lapses.

“This game is about leverage and angles,” he said. “You if ain’t got the right leverage, and you ain’t got the right angle, you’re gonna miss a tackle. That’s universal. That’s across the board, from Pee Wee up until now.”

The Browns made corrections in the second half, but it proved to be too late. They’ve spent the past few days working on their tackling techniques in practice so they don’t make the same mistakes Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, whose offense can strike from anywhere on the field.

O’Neil said missed tackles are an unforgiveable sin for any defense.

“It’s frustrating when you have a free runner at the quarterback and you don’t get a guy down or you have a chance to tackle a guy for a one or two yard gain and it ends up being a 30-yard gain,” he said. “You’ve got to drill it. The guys have to go into the game with the mentality that we’re going to tackle.

“You can have the best scheme in the world, which we feel that we do on defense, but if you can’t execute old-school fundamentals — running to the football, tackling and getting off blocks — you’re not going to be worth anything on defense if you can’t do those three basic things.”

The Browns didn’t offer any excuses, but with several new players, the defense hasn’t had a chance to build any chemistry just yet. That may not explain why a defensive back is out of position or a linebacker overruns a play, but it could illuminate why there were Cleveland players in the right spot and they still didn’t make a tackle.

Coach Mike Pettine, a former defensive coordinator, says tackling is a group effort.

“You have to know when to be able to take your shot,” Pettine said. “Sometimes, guys hesitate, break down too soon, as opposed to trusting that the guys are coming and then if I do miss, go ahead and take my best shot at it full speed instead of hesitating, knowing that the defense is coming.

“That’s important. That’s a trust factor, and that comes with playing together.”

As bad as the Browns tackled, the Saints were statistically worse in their 30-27 overtime loss in Atlanta.

New Orleans coach Sean Payton said improved tackling has been a point of emphasis this week. Payton said some of the league’s rules on contact make it more challenging to work on tackling, but that’s hardly justification for poor fundamentals.

“There are still a lot of things we can do with regards to our angles,” Payton said. “The very first thing would be population to the ball. When you watch any good defense, you’ll see numbers to the ball regardless of whether it’s a run or a pass. That’s one thing you can immediately begin to focus on. Secondly, when you’re there, it’s the angle, the technique and how you’re hitting.”

Browns cornerback Joe Haden said sometimes a big hit can wake a defense up. But wrapping your arms around a ball carrier and bringing him down is expected.

“There’s no excuse for not tackling,” he said.

NOTES: TE Jordan Cameron and LB Barkevious Mingo both missed practice shoulder injuries. … Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said he would “probably not” use a “Johnny Package” for QB Johnny Manziel against the Saints unless Brian Hoyer got hurt. … The Browns are hoping to get suspended WR Josh Gordon back at some point, and Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas feels the Ray Rice situation could accelerate the league’s willingness to amend the drug policy. “Most NFL fans would say it’s ridiculous that when a player is suspended that he can’t be around his team which is going to be the No. 1 support group that he has,” he said.

___

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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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