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Chiefs, Miami hope backup RBs can get them going

By WTOP Staff

STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — When comparing Kansas City Chiefs running backs, it would seem Jamaal Charles has Knile Davis beaten by a mile — or by 5,522 career yards rushing, which is actually 3.1 miles.

Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake argues otherwise. Charles is hampered by a high ankle sprain that could keep him out of Sunday’s game at Miami, but Wake says the challenge remains the same.

“Whoever has the ball, you have to put them on the ground,” Wake says. “I don’t care if it’s Jamaal Charles, Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, it doesn’t matter.”

None of the likely ball carriers for either team Sunday is as well-known as Big Bird.

Miami will be without Knowshon Moreno, who rushed for an NFL-high 134 yards in Week 1 but hurt his elbow early in last week’s loss at Buffalo. That means the bulk of the carries will go to veteran Lamar Miller and undrafted rookie Damien Williams.

Davis, a second-year pro, filled in for Charles last week at Denver and ran for 79 yards, boosting his career total to 324. But the injury-plagued Chiefs lost 24-17 and are 0-2 after going 11-5 last year.

The Dolphins endured a 29-10 drubbing at Buffalo that dropped them to 1-1. Here are things to watch as Miami and Kansas City try to bounce back:

BACKFIELD SHIFT: Both teams have sputtered offensively, and the injuries to Charles and Moreno will make it more difficult to get the ground game going. But even with reserves taking the handoff, Miami coach Joe Philbin anticipates few changes in the offensive schemes.

“You have an offseason program where you get probably 1,000 reps of offense,” Philbin says. “Then you go to training camp and get about 1,600 or 1,700 reps. Then you get four preseason games. I don’t know that you can change a whole lot in a week based on one injury. There may be things we emphasize more than others, but you kind of are what you are.”

RIDDLED CHIEFS: Charles, who accounted for nearly 40 percent of the Chiefs’ offense last season, heads a long injury list for the Chiefs.

They finished last week’s game down seven starters, including tackle Donald Stephenson, who is suspended. On injured reserve are Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Johnson, linebacker Joe Mays, defensive tackle Mike DeVito and tackle Jeff Allen. Also hobbled is Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry.

The Chiefs anticipate at least one reinforcement: rookie receiver-running back De’Anthony Thomas is expected to make his debut after missing the first two games with a hamstring injury.

STRUGGLING QBS: Miami’s Ryan Tannehill has a passer rating that ranks 29th, and Kansas City’s Alex Smith is even worse — 35th and last. Both rank in the bottom quarter in completion percentage and yards per attempt. Neither has a completion of more than 27 yards.

Smith has scrambled better than he has thrown. He leads all quarterbacks with 78 yards rushing in 11 carries.

“It’s a problem for secondaries because he can extend plays, whereas a normal guy might be in trouble and might get sacked,” Dolphins Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes says. “It can turn into backyard football a little bit.”

NO HARD FEELINGS: Dolphins left tackle Branden Albert started 83 games for the Chiefs in 2008-13 and made the Pro Bowl last year, but was deemed expendable because Kansas City had tackle Eric Fisher, the overall No. 1 draft pick in 2013.

Albert’s $47 million, five-year deal with Miami eased the pain of parting, and he says he harbors no hard feelings toward the Chiefs.

“I had six good years there, man,” Albert says. “I went there as a young boy and came out as a grown man. I have love for Kansas City — Kansas and Missouri, both sides. I had my ups and downs and people criticized me. But for the most part I’ve got a lot of great memories of being in Kansas City.”

IN A HOLE: The Chiefs’ Andy Reid is off to an 0-2 start for the fourth time in his 16-year career as an NFL head coach. His 2003 Eagles lost their first two games, but finished 12-4 and reached the NFC championship game.

Since mid-November, the Chiefs have lost seven of the past nine games. But they expect to get into the playoff chase soon.

“You’ve got 14 more games left,” defensive lineman Kevin Vickerson says. “It’s a long season, a lot of trials and a lot of ups and downs. It’ll change real soon.”

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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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