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Williams debut a bust, on to Week 2

By WTOP Staff

R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Gregg Williams’ long-delayed debut as St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator was a bust, and it only gets harder from here.

For at least a few months, he’ll be without standout end Chris Long. The pressure had already been ramped up to keep the score down when Sam Bradford was lost in the preseason, and third-string quarterback Austin Davis could get the start in Week 2 at Tampa Bay with Shaun Hill questionable.

“We’re pretty talented at that position,” Williams said Friday. “They don’t want to see any fall off, they don’t want to let him down. We’ll rise up.”

William Hayes, who’s been a valuable member of the defensive end rotation, gets his first start in three years with the Rams on Sunday. Undrafted rookie Ethan Westbrooks, who beat out Michael Sam for a backup spot on the defensive line, is expected to make his NFL debut.

“Now he’s going to have a chance to see in a regular season game, how it speeds up,” Williams said. “He’s got a lot of talent and he’s picked things up very well.”

Two interceptions were costly in the opening 34-6 loss to Minnesota, one leading to a late touchdown in the first half and another returned for a score. So, it wasn’t all on the defense.

But a unit aspiring to top 10 status under the relentless prodding from Williams also got burned for a couple of crucial big plays. Numerous players whiffed on wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson’s back-breaking 67-yard run of a simple pitchout for a 20-3 lead late in the third quarter.

“We had two significant plays that stood out, and both times 84 (Patterson) had his hands on the ball,” Williams said. “Other than that, we tackled pretty well.”

The Rams forced some quick throws and Williams noted “we got our hands on five balls, not that I’m counting.” The bottom line was one sack and no turnovers produced in the first game under the coach who was briefly a member of Jeff Fisher’s first staff in 2012 before serving a bounty gate suspension.

Williams returned in the offseason, replacing inexperienced Tim Walton. He thought the defense improved throughout the preseason, and added, “Nowhere have I ever been that there has been a let-off.”

Long, the second overall pick in 2008, will miss the first game of his career and many more after undergoing surgery for an ankle surgery Thursday. He was placed on injured reserve-designated to return and Fisher remains hopeful Long will be back late in the season.

Davis, undrafted out of Southern Mississippi and a deep reserve with St. Louis parts of three seasons, made his NFL debut in the second half of the opener. He’s gotten all of the first-team snaps this week, although Fisher said Hill (left quadriceps) could go without any work and will be a game-time decision.

“I feel good with the plays we’re running, and now it’s just perfecting the timing,” Davis.

Davis absorbed four of the Vikings’ five sacks with no after-effects, adding, “I’m fresh, good to go. A lot of times it feels good to get hit.”

Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick, subbed at guard late in the game after Rodger Saffold left with a neck injury. He was anointed a starting guard the day of the draft but was used at both guard and tackle in the preseason, perhaps hindering his progress.

Part of the opener, he stood alone far away from the cluster of reserves who gathered behind assistant coaches.

“It was a lot thoughts going through my head,” Robinson said. “At the end of the day you’ve got to be positive.

“It’s just something I have to prepare myself for because change could happen at any time.”

Rookie defensive back Lamarcus Joyner also was questionable with a back injury, missing the last two practices after limited work on Wednesday.

___

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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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