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Rodgers healthy for this meeting with Lions

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Since Aaron Rodgers took over as Green Bay’s starting quarterback in 2008, the Packers have beaten the Detroit Lions with regularity — as long as Rodgers has been healthy.

He wasn’t last year, when the Packers were blown out in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. But the Green Bay star will be on the field Sunday, ready to take aim at the Lions’ shaky secondary.

“We’ve had some success against them over the years, but I don’t think you can point to one specific thing,” Rodgers said. “Probably, if you point to anything, it’s probably turnover margin and big plays. We’ve done a pretty good job of taking care of the football against them the last few years, and our defense getting some turnovers.”

The Packers (1-1) have won 15 of the last 17 meetings with Detroit, and they’re 9-1 when Rodgers plays. The one loss he took part in came in 2010, when Rodgers left the game in the first half with a concussion. Last season, Rodgers was out with a fractured collarbone when Green Bay lost to the Lions 40-10 on Thanksgiving.

Packers offensive lineman Josh Sitton caused a stir before that game when he called Detroit’s defensive players “dirtbags.” The Lions responded by outgaining Green Bay 561-126.

Detroit (1-1) has been impressive defensively so far this season, but the secondary remains a concern. The first two opposing quarterbacks, Eli Manning of the New York Giants and Cam Newton of Carolina, didn’t do too much damage against the Lions’ defensive backs. But Detroit has already lost cornerbacks Bill Bentley and Nevin Lawson to season-ending injuries. Safety James Ihedigbo has been dealing with a neck problem.

The Lions had already lost defensive backs Louis Delmas and Chris Houston in the offseason.

Rodgers presents an obvious challenge for Detroit. He shook off a tough opening loss to Seattle and threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns last weekend against the New York Jets.

“Well, he gives you so many problems,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. “He’s got a quick release, which I think is obviously a hallmark of a guy that does a great job in that area. He also has a great understanding of his offensive system, so he’s smart. He can use his feet, not only to buy a little time in the pocket, but he can also get outside of the pocket and hurt you because he can run and he can cover ground.”

Here are a few other things to watch in this early NFC North clash:

ONE DIMENSIONAL?: The Lions still could use more offensive balance — there are times when they rely too much on star receiver Calvin Johnson — but Rodgers is not exactly spreading the ball around either.

Green Bay WR Jordy Nelson was targeted 30 times over first two games, and he has 18 catches.

“This is a long season and guys will get different opportunities throughout the year,” Rodgers said. “This last week and the second half of the Seattle game, our tight ends were not pass receivers first. They were blockers first, and more specifically, pass blockers. … When your primary (receiver) is winning the one-on-one battle, they’re going to get the football. That’s why Jordy got the ball so much on Sunday. As we settle into our protections and settle into our roles, guys will get even more opportunities.”

FOR KICKS: The Lions drafted K Nate Freese in the seventh round out of Boston College, but the rookie is off to a slow start, missing three of his first five field goal attempts. All the misses were from beyond 40 yards, but the pressure will be on for Freese to steady himself.

FIGURING IT OUT: The Packers have had mixed results with a tweaked defense, which includes using a 4-3 look along with a 3-4. Last weekend, Green Bay allowed touchdowns to the Jets on the first three drives, then gave up only three more points the rest of the way.

SPUTTERING: Although Johnson and Detroit QB Matthew Stafford remain one of the game’s most dynamic tandems, the Lions haven’t been able to support them with a consistent running game so far. Detroit is averaging 3.04 yards per carry, with neither Joique Bell nor Reggie Bush having been all that efficient.

POWER UP FRONT: Detroit’s defensive line has long had the potential to be great, and Ndamukong Suh’s group is living up to expectations to this point in 2014. The Lions already have seven sacks, and Detroit is allowing only 2.5 yards per carry.

___

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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