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Cutler faces another challenge in Jets’ front 7

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Jay Cutler figures he won’t see a better front seven than he will when the Chicago Bears visit the New York Jets on Monday night.

He hopes he doesn’t, anyway.

Cutler faces another challenge after passing a big test last week, when the Bears rallied for a surprising win at San Francisco.

He showed his poise in that game, helping Chicago rally from 17 down to beat the 49ers and avoid a 0-2 start.

Cutler was at his best down the stretch, finishing with four touchdown passes.

The defense came up big, too, and the Bears pulled out a win that few saw coming after they opened with a loss at home to Buffalo.

The Jets present another obstacle with the way they mix looks, go after the quarterback and stuff the run. They have six sacks, are allowing a league-low 52.5 yards rushing and have a front seven that could pose all sorts of problems for Chicago.

“I hope we don’t see one better than them,” Cutler said Friday. “With the big guys, the big guys in that kind of defense are usually run stoppers, two-gap guys. These guys get up the field, they can rush the passer, they can move.

“Linebackers, they do a great job of showing different looks, disguising stuff, coming from one side, giving you looks on the other side. So it’s challenging; you can tell that some of these guys have been in this defense for a while.”

As solid as the Jets are up front, the holes in the secondary are as glaring.

They released top cornerback Antonio Cromartie for salary cap reasons in March.

The Jets addressed their offense after an 8-8 season, adding running back Chris Johnson, receiver Eric Decker and quarterback Michael Vick.

Promising cornerback Dee Milliner was limited against Green Bay after missing the opener because of a high left ankle sprain.

The holes in the secondary along with the one-on-one opportunities receivers have when the Jets blitz could mean openings for Chicago’s Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery.

That’s assuming they’re healthy and that Cutler can get the ball to them in time.

Marshall (ankle) and Jeffery (hamstring) played through injuries against San Francisco, although Marshall caught three touchdown passes. He sat out practices Thursday and Friday, while Jeffery was limited.

“Every receiver just has one guy,” offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer said. “There’s no help with a deep safety. And we’ve seen more in those two games on that tape in studying them, than we saw all last year. So it is a one-on-one battle. But you have to get it off fast enough before the quarterback gets hit. Because they blitz one more man than you can protect.”

That could mean shorter and quicker passes. Timing with the receivers could be crucial along with the blocking.

The same goes for Cutler and the poise he shows.

He kept his cool last week, helping the Bears rally when they looked as if they were ready to be blown out. This time, his poise could be tested again. But there could also be some openings for him.

“They’re very, very good at mixing it up and not tipping what they’re going to do prior to the snap,” coach Marc Trestman said. “There’s always going to be big-play ability when you leave the middle of the field open. When people bring those kinds of blitzes they know that.”

NOTES: Cutler praised Marshall on Friday, a day after his longtime friend and teammate decided to defend himself amid attempts to link his troubled past to the recent controversy about domestic violence in the NFL. “I couldn’t be more proud of him as a person, as a player, and as a friend of mine,” Cutler said. He called Marshall an “open book” about his past issues with domestic violence and his fight against borderline personality disorder. … Devin Hester had former teammates in Chicago cheering after he set a league record with his 20th return for a touchdown. Hester ran back a punt for Atlanta in Thursday’s romp over Tampa Bay to break the mark he shared with mentor Deion Sanders. In a nod to his friend in attendance, Hester high-stepped with his hand behind his ear as he approached the end zone. “Seeing him do that Deion dance at the end, it was amazing to see that happen for him,” the Bears’ Roberto Garza said.

___

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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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