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Rivera: Panthers may blitz more with Hardy out

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Panthers are considering blitzing more with Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy having accepted a paid leave of absence to deal with his domestic violence case.

Hardy, the team’s franchise player and top pass rusher, isn’t expected to return until late November at the earliest.

Carolina’s fifth-ranked defense doesn’t typically blitz more than a handful of times during a game, preferring instead to get pressure on the quarterback with its talented four-man base front. But without Hardy, who had 15 sacks last year, coach Ron Rivera knows applying pressure might be more of a challenge forcing defensive coordinator Sean McDermott to gamble more and amp up the team’s blitz package.

“We are going to have to look at doing different things if we are struggling to get pressure with just four men,” Rivera said as the Panthers continued preparation for Sunday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1).

When asked if that will expose Carolina’s suspect secondary to some potential big plays, Rivera responded flatly, “Only if you’re not getting to the quarterback.”

Hardy’s return date will likely depend on his jury trial set for Nov. 17.

He was convicted July 15 of assault on a female and communicating threats following an altercation with his ex-girlfriend in March. He is appealing the case.

But for now, the Panthers will be looking for ways to continue the momentum from their 2-0 start with Hardy out of the lineup.

Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson doesn’t seem too concerned about replacing Hardy. While Johnson said Hardy is a tremendous player, he’s quick to add “We have a saying around here: Next man up.”

Or in this case, next men up.

The Panthers will rely on Wes Horton, Mario Addison and rookie Kony Ealy to fill the void left by Hardy.

Rivera said he’s likely to follow the game plan from last week when Hardy was deactivated hours before the team’s 24-7 win over the Detroit Lions.

That means Horton will likely start, and Addison and Ealy will be used as situational pass rushers. Horton didn’t have a tackle, but Addison did a nice job coming off the bench last week with 2 ½ sacks and four QB pressures.

The Panthers are in line to get more help in Week 5 when Frank Alexander returns from a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Alexander is considered the team’s third-best defensive end behind Hardy and Johnson.

The Panthers led the NFL with 60 sacks in 2013.

They already have seven this year along with six turnovers, three of those off interceptions. They had four sacks last week against the Lions came with Hardy out of the lineup.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said even without Hardy the Panthers have a dangerous pass rush.

“They get after it in their front,” Roethlisberger said. “I think one of the biggest compliments I can pay them is that they do it without trying to trick you, they just straight up beat you. I think that is so impressive, because nowadays you see so many exotic things when it comes to defenses. From them it seems like they just line up and beat you man for man.”

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Horton, is a quality athlete with athletic bloodlines. His father, Mike, was the muscular “Gemini” on the TV show American Gladiators.

Addison had all of his sacks in the second half when the Panthers had built a lead against the Lions and forced Matthew Stafford into a game of catch up.

“It’s not a one-man show, it’s the whole team,” Addison said of moving forward without Hardy. “We have to stick together during tough times and that is how you overcome adversity.”

NOTES: Running back DeAngelo Williams missed his second straight day of practice with a thigh injury, but Rivera said he’s not that worried about him missing Sunday night’s game. Rivera said he’s more concerned about wide receiver Jason Avant (thigh) and third-string running back Fozzy Whittaker (thigh), who did not practice. … Fullback Mike Tolbert (chest) was limited in practice, but Rivera is optimistic he’ll play.

___

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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