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Packers look to shore up run defense against Jets

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers signed Julius Peppers to get to the quarterback.

To get better at that, the veteran pass rusher realizes the defense has to get better at stopping the run first.

Allowing 207 yards on the ground, which is what Green Bay gave up last week to Seattle, might not cut it against the New York Jets in the home opener Sunday.

“You’ve got to stop the run to be able to have a chance to rush the passer, so that’s where our focus is,” Peppers said Thursday.

It sounds like a sound plan against a Jets team that ran for 212 yards in a win over Oakland last week. Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory provide a solid one-two punch, and Geno Smith is a mobile threat at quarterback.

The Packers expect to see some read-option, just like in Seattle. What the Jets don’t immediately present is an all-purpose threat like receiver Percy Harvin, who beat the Packers on sweeps and through the air.

Poor tackling was an issue, a problem that also hampered the Packers at times last year. This week, much of the talk in the locker room was about technique and fundamentals.

“Just basically just keep trusting our technique. Trust the defense, and it will put us in position to make plays, and we’ll be fine,” safety Morgan Burnett said.

Up front, defensive line coach Mike Trgovac scoffs at the notion that a lighter front line might get pushed around more by blockers. The 339-pound Ryan Pickett and 325-pound Johnny Jolly weren’t re-signed from last season, and 337-pound nose tackle B.J Raji was lost for the year in preseason with a biceps injury.

Lighter guys theoretically will be more athletic in space after shedding blockers. This fits with coach Mike McCarthy’s offseason goal to build a quicker, playmaking defense. The Packers still average about 300 pounds across its defensive front with 285-pound Datone Jones and 305-pound Mike Daniels sandwiching 315-pound nose tackle Letroy Guion.

“People around here are so used to us being 340 across the board, which is rare in the league,” Trgovac said. “So it’s not like we’re absolutely sitting there with 270-pound players. I think our size will be fine.”

Capers indicated Thursday that he might turn to 332-pound nose tackle Mike Pennel in certain situations. Pennel is an undrafted rookie free agent who impressed in training camp.

The Jets have experience in the middle of the line with center Nick Mangold and right guard Willie Colon, plus 320-pound Brian Winters at left guard.

“If you’re going against a big physical line, you’ve got to be able to match that up at times,” Capers said. “This time … they’ve got a very veteran line.”

But no one on the defense is relying on excuses. An emphasis was placed on tackling this week. Improvement is expected.

“First of all, any time you face a good back, you can’t miss tackles like we did, OK?” Trgovac said. “We’ve just got to keep chopping wood and keep getting better. That’s what we did this week. I think we’ve got a good group, and I think we’ll be OK there.”

Also Thursday, inside linebacker Brad Jones missed practice again with a quad injury. Jamari Lattimore would take his place if Jones can’t play.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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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