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Jets’ backfield trio adds versatility to offense

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Chris Johnson paused for a second to think about the last time he lined up in a wishbone-type formation.

Three running backs. One backfield. Lots of problems for the defense.

“Probably high school,” Johnson said smiling.

Well, until last Sunday, when the New York Jets had him, Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell in the backfield at the same time for a few plays in a 19-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders.

“It was pretty cool,” Johnson said. “They can’t just focus on one guy.”

That’s how it’ll be for defensive coordinators facing the Jets this season. Maybe all three will be out there. Or, maybe just one — but which one?

“We’re blessed,” coach Rex Ryan said, “to have three really good backs.”

Johnson, Ivory and Powell — the Jets’ Smash, Flash and Dash backfield — helped power a rushing attack that gained 212 yards last Sunday.

Ivory is Smash, a powerful runner who can plow through defenders. Johnson is Flash, a still-speedy veteran who once ran for 2,000 yards. Powell is Dash, an underrated do-it-all running back.

The three will go up against the Packers this Sunday at Green Bay, hoping for the same type of success as Seattle, which ran for 207 yards last week.

“It gives the defense a different look, something that they’re not used to seeing all the time,” said quarterback Geno Smith, who ran for 38 yards himself against the Raiders.

Ivory rushed for 102 yards on 10 carries, including a career-best 71-yard burst that put the Jets in control in the fourth quarter. He’s a violent runner, a guy who hits defenders with such force that his long dreads fly from under his helmet with each pop of the pads.

On a 26-yard pass from Smith to Jeff Cumberland in the second quarter, Ivory had a huge blitz pickup of a charging Sio Moore. The biggest play, though, came with the Jets nursing a 13-7 lead when he took the handoff, slipped out of a few would-be tacklers and rumbled down the field.

“Just a great run,” Ivory said. “I was able to break one or two (tackles), I saw a cutback lane and took it. And after that, just try to see who’s the fastest to the end zone.”

Ryan kept telling Ivory on the sideline earlier in the game to keep pounding the ball because he thought he was about to bust through the defense.

The coach was right.

“That big power back at the end of the day, man, that is tough,” Ryan said. “And especially if it’s not going your way. You love just handing it to the big back and let him roll.”

Johnson has the most impressive resume of the three, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and one of just seven players to run for 2,000 or more yards in a season. That came in 2009, when he had 2,006 yards for Tennessee and was the fastest and most dynamic player in the league.

He’s 28 now and maybe not as lightning-quick, but he’s still faster than most players on most teams. Johnson had 68 yards on 13 carries and five catches for 23 yards — including a 5-yard TD — in the opener, showing a bit of the versatility that could make him a dangerous addition.

“There were a couple of times where it could’ve been a bigger play than it was,” Johnson said. “But that’s going to come with repetition and the more games I play and the more comfortable I get, hopefully those 10- or 15-yard run turn into 70 and 80 yards.”

While Johnson was used to being the lead back in his six seasons with the Titans, Marty Mornhinweg could use him more in a rotation — depending on how each game is going.

“I think Marty knows what he’s doing,” Johnson said, “and he knows how to get the ball into his playmakers’ hands.”

Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers is also well aware of the challenges the Jets’ mix-and-match backfield could pose.

“They have two very good running backs who are different-style running backs,” Capers said. “One is the slasher, uses his speed. The other one is a north-south guy who broke a long run (Sunday), a very physical runner. They use all the different personnel groups and they spread you out.”

Oh, and then there’s Powell.

Sure, he had just one run for 4 yards last week, but the 2011 fourth-round pick finished second to Ivory with a career-best 697 yards rushing last year. He also tied for second with 36 receptions. He’s versatile and valuable, and Ryan loves having him.

“I think Bilal Powell is one of the most underrated backs in the league,” Ryan said. “We really never used him a whole lot last week. He’s a good back as well.

“We have a whole stable of backs and, obviously, that’s probably a strength of ours.”

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AP Sports Writer Genaro C. Armas in Green Bay, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.

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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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