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Raiders seek ways to get Reece more involved

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — For a player who generates so much attention from opposing defenses and gets paid handsomely by his own team, Marcel Reece somehow has become the forgotten man on the Oakland Raiders offense.

Reece has touched the ball just four times through two games and been on the field for just more than one-third of the offensive snaps as the Raiders have lost the first two games.

With an offense that lacks playmakers and has been struggling to score points, Reece would seem to be a prime option to spark a winless team.

Offensive coordinator Greg Olson said he always looks for ways to get Reece the ball but for some reason it just hasn’t happened much so far.

“We have to be a little bit aware early in the game of getting him involved early,” Olson said. “We only had 20 snaps again in the first half. There were things designed to him. … We had some things there it just didn’t end up going there. We’ll continue to find ways to utilize Marcel.”

Reece said that any offensive player wants to get the ball as much as possible but said his frustration is solely on the Raiders’ record and not about how he is being used.

“I’m about winning,” he said. “That’s all it’s about for me. If we’re winning and I don’t touch the ball, I think that sits well with me. We haven’t won yet so I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help this team win and make plays on the field.”

Reece was given a three-year contract extension worth more than $11 million last September, making him one of the highest-paid fullbacks in the NFL. His nearly $4 million cap charge this season is the second highest of any Oakland skill position player, trailing only backup quarterback Matt Schaub.

Reece’s few touches and limited time are somewhat typical for fullbacks, who have become almost an endangered species in this wide-open passing era that has teams often using three or four wideouts at a time.

But Reece is far from a typical fullback. He is a converted college wide receiver who had the speed to outrun the New York Jets defense on a 63-yard touchdown run last year and the hands to catch 52 passes in 2012.

In a sign of his versatility, Reece spent more than one-third of his snaps last year lined up as a wide receiver or tight end, according to Pro Football Focus.

“He’s a real tough matchup,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “It’s hard to find guys that have his skills that you can put on. You can put faster, quicker guys on him that probably don’t have his size and you can put bigger guys on him that probably don’t have his speed and quickness. It’s a tough matchup. Obviously, we’ll be challenged trying to get him covered.”

Making Reece’s lack of opportunities more puzzling is the fact that he has excelled in the few chances he has had as Oakland’s feature back. In five starts over the past two seasons at tailback, Reece has averaged 123.4 yards a game — a mark that would have ranked fourth in the NFL last year.

In his one start last year, he rushed for 123 yards on 19 carries against a stout Jets defense that ranked third in the league in run defense in 2013. No other back in the league gained more than 81 yards on the ground in a single game against the Jets.

Yet when the Raiders opened the season against New York this year, Reece got only three offensive touches while the team averaged just 1.7 yards per carry.

“Marcel’s a player that we think can help us,” coach Dennis Allen said. “We’ll try to use him the best that we can and give us a chance to have success.”

NOTES: The Raiders waived DE Shelby Harris and cut LB Kaelin Burnett off IR. … RB Maurice Jones-Drew returned to practice for the first time since injuring his right hand in the opener. … DE Justin Tuck (illness) and CB Carlos Rogers (knee) were also back after sitting Wednesday. … WR Rod Streater (hip) and LB Sio Moore remain sidelined.

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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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