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Jaguars want to see more ‘Heave-it Henne’

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars would like to see less “Check-down Chad” and more “Heave-it Henne.”

Coach Gus Bradley said this week that he’s imploring quarterback Chad Henne to “be more explosive-minded, take chances and have no fear.”

Henne completed 24 of 43 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s season-opening loss at Philadelphia. Henne was at his best early in the game, when he connected with rookie Allen Hurns for both scores. Those were among his four passes that traveled at least 20 yards in the air.

While that might not seem like Henne’s airing it out, the seventh-year pro only threw 29 passes of 20 or more yards in 15 games last season.

“He is challenging himself to do more of that,” Bradley said. “Not that he wasn’t (in 2013), but I think he clearly understands where we want to go with it. He is taking more chances, and that’s what we want.”

Henne hooked up with Hurns for a 34-yard touchdown pass on the team’s second possession and found him again for a 46-yard gain that got the Jaguars off their 1-yard line later in the first quarter. Henne also tossed two more deep balls on consecutive plays in the third: he overthrew Hurns and had one knocked out of Marqise Lee’s hands.

“I thought he was really aggressive,” offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said. “We talked to him about that’s the way our system is built. We want to throw the ball down the field. We want to use screen game to be able to make them run laterally so we can throw the ball vertically when they’re tired.

“With us, in order to run our offense you’ve got to be able to throw the ball vertically.”

Rookie Blake Bortles showed a knack for deep balls in the preseason, completing 32 passes for 521 yards and two touchdowns.

Although the Jaguars have decided to keep Bortles on the bench to start the season, they wanted Henne to play with the same down-the-field mentality.

Henne said it’s always been his mindset to take shots vertically, but that clearly wasn’t the case during in first two years in Jacksonville or in four seasons in Miami, where he was dubbed “Check-down Chad.”

“As much as they call it, I’m going to huck it and chuck it down the field,” Henne said. “I’ve done it in my career before. It’s not like I’ve never done it. If the plays present themselves, and we call those plays, we’ll take full advantage of it.”

Calling the plays might be easier said than done for the Jaguars (0-1).

After all, they opened the season without receivers Cecil Shorts III (hamstring) and Ace Sanders (suspension) and started two rookies in Hurns and Lee.

The offensive line is equally inexperienced, with third-round draft pick Brandon Linder starting at right guard, journeyman Jacques McClendon having one start at center and second-year pro Luke Joeckel still getting a feel for playing left tackle in the NFL after missing most of his rookie season with a broken right ankle.

“It’s more about the plays being called,” Henne said. “We took some shots in Philly. If the plays present themselves and we call those plays, I’m not afraid to go out there and take a shot.”

___

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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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