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Browns, Saints in hurry to get first wins

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — As starting quarterback Brian Hoyer and Cleveland’s offense misfired miserably last week in the first half at Pittsburgh, many Browns fans at halftime had one thought: Hurry up!

And they meant for coach Mike Pettine to switch to Johnny Manziel.

But Johnny Football stayed on the sideline and the Browns implemented a no-huddle, up-tempo offense that helped them overcome a 24-point halftime deficit before losing 30-27.

It’s possible the Browns (0-1) will push the pace again Sunday and they may have to against the high-powered New Orleans Saints (0-1), who are capable of quickly posting big numbers on the stat sheet and scoreboard.

The Browns will never morph into anything close to Chip Kelly’s rapid-fire Philadelphia Eagles, the closest thing the NFL has to a track team in shoulder pads. Pettine intends to use the no-huddle in spurts.

“It’s a weapon,” Pettine said. “But it’s not our lifestyle.”

Abandoning the huddle, Hoyer found his rhythm in the second half, completing 15 of 20 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. The passing game opened up Cleveland’s running attack and rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell — filling in for injured starter Ben Tate — combined for 121 yards and two TDs.

In attack mode, the Browns stormed back.

“When you can move fast and you’re getting chunk plays whether it’s in the running game or the passing game, that gives you a little bit of momentum,” Hoyer said. “But we can’t just rely on our no-huddle offense because no one can sustain that type of energy for an entire 60 minutes plus 16 games a year.”

The Saints have a different sense of urgency this week.

After losing 37-34 in overtime last week in Atlanta, New Orleans can’t afford to start 0-2. Since the playoff format was revamped in 1990, only 12 percent of teams which began the season with two losses qualified for the playoffs.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who threw for 333 yards last week, said things aren’t as dire as many believe.

“We don’t feel like it is doomsday, but there is a sense of urgency to get better,” he said. “We can’t walk away from that game and exonerate ourselves. We had opportunities to score more points and we didn’t do it. Obviously, that can get you beat. We have to make strides as an offense. We want to have our biggest improvement from week one to week two.”

Here are some more things to watch for when the Browns host the Saints:

RETURN ENGAGEMENT: The Saints return to the site of the first game of the Payton-Brees era, a 19-14 victory in 2006. The game marked the beginning of the most successful span in franchise history, highlighted by a Super Bowl championship in the 2009 season.

“It is hard to believe that was nine years ago,” Brees said. “I remember us going in just saying, ‘Hey, can we please get a win today'”

WHERE’S JOHNNY?: Manziel was merely a spectator in his first NFL regular-season game. The Browns have a package of plays designed to use his mobility, but unless Hoyer struggles or gets injured, the former Heisman Trophy winner will spend another Sunday wearing only a baseball cap.

Still, there’s always a chance Manziel could play and Pettine is sure Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will be ready for him.

“It could happen, and I know Rob,” said Pettine, who coached with Ryan’s twin brother, Rex, in New York. “They’re preparing for it. I’m sure they are. Ryan’s are very paranoid, very detailed in their preparation. If Johnny does go out there, I don’t think it will be anything he hasn’t prepared himself for.”

ROAD BLOCK: The schedule maker didn’t do New Orleans any favors. The Saints are playing their first two games on the road for just the fourth time in team history. New Orleans is just 6-11 away from home since 2012, and has dropped four straight road games. In those losses, Brees has thrown more interceptions (five) and TDs (four).

YOUNG LEGS: With Tate out again with a sprained knee, the Browns will count on West and Crowell to move the chains and maybe keep the high-octane New Orleans offense on the sideline. The duo played like seasoned veterans against the Steelers, with both averaging more than 6 yards per carry. West is the first Browns back to hit the century mark in his debut since Larry Mason in 1987.

UNDER PRESSURE: Hurt by 568 yards from the Matt Ryan-led Falcons last week, the Saints’ defense will aim to make things much tougher on Hoyer. Defensive end Cam Jordan and pass-rushing linebacker Junior Galette combined for 24½ sacks last season. The Saints had just one sack against Atlanta.

“I’ve never had that feeling as far as how poorly I feel like I played, personally,” Galette said, promising “it’s just not going to happen” again.

___

Online:

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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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