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Indy trying to improve run-stopping against Eagles

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Coach Chuck Pagano came to the Colts with a proven defensive blueprint.

He needed bigger, stouter players in the front seven, cornerbacks and safeties who liked getting physical and a unit committed to stopping the run.

Three years into this project, Pagano’s imprint seems to be taking hold. A week after limiting the Broncos to 3.2 yards per carry, nearly cracking the league’s top 10 in run defense and allowing just one score in the second half, Pagano’s players believe they’re making progress.

“We’ve gotten better at every position, every year,” said defensive end Cory Redding, who played for Pagano in Baltimore and was one of the Colts’ first additions after Pagano’s hire in 2012. “The first year, we didn’t have the guys up front that we needed, but we made it work. Last year, we got better and now, we’ve showed at times, that we can do the job.”

The next big test comes Monday night when the Colts (0-1) will try to slow down Philadelphia’s surprisingly strong ground game.

When Chip Kelly took his fast-break style offense from Oregon to the NFL, the natural assumption was that the Eagles (1-0) would be throwing the ball a lot. Instead, the Eagles wound up leading the league in rushing last season at 160.4 yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry, and last week the defending NFC East champs and their new tag-team backfield of LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles nearly matched those numbers. They combined for 32 carries, 145 yards and one touchdown.

Indy’s defensive players have taken notice.

“They try to get you off balance, kind of panic based on their tempo,” outside linebacker Erik Walden said Friday. “But we have to get after 25 (McCoy) and 43 (Sproles), first and foremost.”

Nobody understands the challenge better than Arthur Jones, a 6-foot-3, 337-pound run stuffing defensive lineman who Indy signed this offseason in free agency, and running back Dion Lewis, who the Colts signed this week.

Lewis replaced McCoy as the starter at the University of Pittsburgh after McCoy left school early for the NFL.

Jones, a Syracuse alum, was mentored for four seasons in Baltimore by the likes of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs before joining the Colts, and before that, Jones was chasing down McCoy in the Big East.

“He (McCoy) is a good friend of mine. I’ve known him a long time,” Jones said with a smile. “He’s a great guy, a better football player and it will be good to go out there and tackle him a few times.”

If he gets the chance. Jones has missed the last two days of practice with a shoulder injury.

But even though the Colts defense is not functioning at full strength, there are indications things are changing.

Indy’s defense is no longer willing to tack a backseat to the offense, and it wants to do more than just protect leads.

Redding and Jones have helped bring that Baltimore swagger to the locker room, and on the field, the numbers are improving, too. The Colts allowed fewer points to the Broncos on the road last week than they did in last season’s win over Denver at home. Yes, Manning threw for 269 yards and three TDS in last week’s 31-24 victory, but that fell short of Manning’s averages (342.3 yards and 3.4 TDs) from his record-setting 2013 season. And the Colts did that without their best pass rusher, Robert Mathis. And they found a way to stuff the run in the second half when the Broncos were trying to play keep away, too.

Can they play that way again this week?

It won’t be easy for the short-handed Colts.

The suspended Mathis has been lost for the season with a torn Achilles’ tendon. In addition to Jones, inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman sat out for the second straight day with a hamstring injury and defensive coordinator Greg Manusky acknowledged the Colts might use second-year linebacker Josh McNary or CFL veteran Henoc Muamba if Freeman can’t play. Backup linebacker Cam Johnson went on injured reserve this week with a left elbow injury, while nose tackle Josh Chapman (ankle) and cornerback Greg Toler (ribs) have been contending with injuries this week, too.

But this week, there’s only one thing that really matters to these Colts.

“Philly does a great job of what they do over there,” Jones said. “They have two special running backs over there, which makes them really good. We just have to do a good job of gang tackling and get ready to play.”

___

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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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