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Titans using 4 running backs to replace Johnson

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dexter McCluster could hear the Chiefs yelling, making sure each knew the speedster was on the field for the Titans. Rookie Bishop Sankey noticed defenders taking advantage of a timeout to see who Tennessee had in the huddle.

Paying close attention is a must with the Titans using not one, two, three but four different running backs to replace Chris Johnson this season.

It’s all part of coach Ken Whisenhunt’s plan to be as flexible and unpredictable as possible on offense.

“To be honest, you don’t care who’s in there if we’re moving the ball and scoring,” Whisenhunt said. “What I think’s more important, I don’t think our guys care.”

They sure don’t, at least not right now. Tennessee ran for 162 yards using the four backs with Shonn Greene getting his first start since signing a three-year deal with the Titans in March 2013. He finished with 71 yards on 15 carries for a 4.7-yard average. McCluster had nine carries, and Sankey the second-round draft pick in May out of Washington had six carries for 25 yards.

Even Leon Washington, the two-time Pro Bowl kick returner, had a couple of carries for 23 yards. Washington has averaged 4.7 yards per carry in his career, and Whisenhunt says he never saw Washington as only a returner.

“I’ve played against Leon a number of times,” Whisenhunt said. “He was in the division when I was coaching Arizona, and I felt like he was a versatile guy that could help us in a number of areas. When we first got here, that was part of the plan. Leon was going to be involved as a running back. It’s a good thing.”

McCluster was a running back in college at Mississippi, but he had only eight carries all last season with Kansas City where he played receiver and returned punts. He said all the running backs are very unselfish knowing each can play. The rotation keeps them all refreshed, and they get the added bonus of keeping defenses off balance.

“To see them in a frenzy and a panic like that, we know we got the upper-hand on them,” McCluster said.

He and Sankey are the new two running backs after the Titans cut Johnson, now with the Jets, in April to avoid $8 million this season. Sankey, the 54th pick overall, ran for a career-high 1,870 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior and may end up with the bulk of the carries over the season. But he has bought into the team-first approach among the running backs.

“It works in our advantage to have those guys rotate in, have fresh legs and be able to get a break and come back in,” Sankey said. “We’re all working toward one goal, and that’s to get wins.”

Now the Cowboys (0-1) get to try to slow them down next. Dallas gave up 127 yards rushing in a season-opening loss to San Francisco. Dallas coach Jason Garrett said in a conference call that the Titans are doing a really good job with their personnel.

“For a team to use three and four running backs in a game, and using them in a lot of different games, it can be a real challenge for you,” Garrett said.

Key to the early success may be that the Titans weren’t afraid to run McCluster between the tackles just like Greene or Sankey.

“I’m hopeful that that’s what people will see and understand we’re going to do that,” Whisenhunt said. “We’re also going to use him with his versatility doing a number of different things, so hopefully we’ll have success doing that.”

Notes: WR Justin Hunter (knee) practiced fully Thursday a day after being limited. FB Jackie Battle (neck) was added to the injury report and was limited in practice. DT Mike Martin (hamstring) and S George Wilson (foot) were limited. QB Charlie Whitehurst (right pinkie) practiced fully.

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Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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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