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Lions WR Johnson will test Panthers new secondary

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Panthers nine-year veteran safety Roman Harper knows all too well about what wide receiver Calvin Johnson can do to a defense.

Harper was a member of the New Orleans Saints when Johnson caught 12 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns in a 2011 playoff game.

“It’s a chore to hold him below 120 yards” receiving, Harper said shaking his head.

Harper said facing Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford on Sunday will be a good measuring stick for Carolina’s revamped secondary, which includes three new starters this season.

Stafford and Johnson hooked up for a pair of touchdown passes in Detroit’s 35-14 victory over the New York Giants on Monday night. Stafford threw for 346 yards — with 164 to Johnson.

“You don’t find a guy who is that size who can run a 4.3 like he does,” Harper said of the 6-foot-5, 236-pound Johnson. “He has the whole package.”

Panthers coach Ron Rivera agrees — and he thinks the quarterback isn’t too bad, either.

After watching the Lions’ dominating offensive performance in Week 1, Rivera offered this response: “Um, wow.”

“They score right away on two big plays and it shows the connection there is between the quarterback and wide receiver and how they have such a good feel for each other,” Rivera said.

Carolina’s defensive front seven is one of the best in the league, led by NFL Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly and defensive ends Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy.

But the back end of the defense continues to be an area of concern.

The Panthers lost cornerback Captain Munnerlyn and safety Mike Mitchell to free agency. Cornerback Antoine Cason and safeties Thomas DeCoud and Harper were signed, and all three are starting. The only returning starter is Melvin White, an undrafted rookie in 2013 who has earned his way onto the first team.

“The communication is starting to come,” Harper said. “Last week we made a few mistakes here and there, but overall it was a great effort.”

The Panthers held Tampa Bay scoreless for three quarters last week and before allowing two late TDs passes in a 20-14 win. But facing Stafford and Johnson is expected to provide a much different challenge than Josh McCown and Vincent Jackson.

“Calvin’s been one of the most, if not the most, productive receiver in the league in the past four or five years,” Stafford said. “You just don’t know how he is going to be used, and he’s had a blast learning this new offense and understanding his role in it now.”

Here are some things to watch from the Lions-Panthers game on Sunday:

NEWTON RETURNS: Cam Newton is expected to return to the starting lineup after missing his first NFL start in four seasons with a rib injury. Newton said he’s “feeling great” and coach Ron Rivera thinks the fourth-year QB is better equipped to take a shot to his midsection than he would have been a week ago. Regardless, it seems highly unlikely Newton will do a whole lot of running Sunday. Newton fractured his ribs in the preseason when he dove headfirst after a scramble out of the pocket instead of sliding. “Will I do it again? You know, who knows?” Newton said. “Coach has been working on the main focus being smart and knowing when to (go down) and when not to.”

SHAKY SECONDARY: The Lions’ defensive backfield was a concern heading into the season after the team lost veterans Louis Delmas and Chris Houston. Then safety James Ihedigbo was inactive for the season opener and cornerback Bill Bentley went down with a knee injury. Eli Manning and the Giants couldn’t take advantage, but Newton will certainly try.

LITTLE MEGATRON?: The Lions may have Johnson, but the Panthers could have their own big-body receiver in first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin. Like Johnson, Benjamin is a big receiver at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds and has been playing at a high level since being selected in the first round. The Florida State product had 92 yards receiving and a touchdown in his NFL debut.

RUNNING WELL: The Panthers ran for 113 yards last week, getting 72 from 31-year-old running back DeAngelo Williams. It was a solid showing for an offensive line that lost four starters to retirement this offseason. No doubt the Panthers would like to establish the run with Williams, Jonathan Stewart and fullback Mike Tolbert to help keep Stafford on the sideline.

INTERIOR BATTLE: The Panthers have a pair of young guards in second-year player Amini Silatolu and rookie Trai Turner. They’ll have their hands full against Ndamukong Suh and Newton’s former Auburn teammate Nick Fairley, two of the game’s most disruptive defensive tackles.

___

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

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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