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Dolphins’ Wallace looking to be more productive

By WTOP Staff

ANDY KENT
Associated Press

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Wide receiver Mike Wallace concedes that he needs to have better production in a sputtering Dolphins offense, even though he has been more involved and is being utilized in more ways than last season.

Wallace is the team’s leading receiver with 17 receptions for 211 yards and two touchdowns through the first three games, but he and quarterback Ryan Tannehill have yet to connect on a deep ball. His 30-yard catch last week against Kansas City came on a crossing route.

“I feel pretty good but obviously we could be better because we are 1-2,” said Wallace, who caught 12 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown last season through three games. “Everybody’s performance could be better including mine.”

Miami leaves Thursday for London in advance of its game against the Oakland Raiders and head coach Joe Philbin remains non-committal on whether or not Tannehill still is his starting quarterback. But wide receiver Rishard Matthews told The Associated Press that Tannehill has been taking all of the snaps with the first team in practice and he feels pretty confident Tannehill will start against the Raiders.

There hasn’t been a noticeable drop in confidence from Tannehill, at least not according to some of his teammates. Matthews described him as a vocal leader in practice and in the huddle during games and Wallace has made a similar observation.

“I think he’s fine,” Wallace said. “Since I’ve been here I’ve never seen Ryan, good, bad or indifferent, act any different at the end of any game. He’s been the same as when I first met him and I have enough to worry about with my own position and trying to do well. I can’t worry about what coach is going to do. Whoever coach puts out there that’s who we’re going to roll with and we’re going to be behind him 100 percent no matter who it is, even if it’s me at quarterback.”

It hasn’t been for a lack of trying that Wallace and Tannehill haven’t been able to come up with more big plays, with new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor even breaking out a double reverse that Wallace turned into a 12-yard gain against the Chiefs. He has lined up in the slot, wide to the left and right and come in motion numerous times, yet Miami ranks last in the league in the category that Lazor calls the most important — yards per attempt — at 5.03.

Wallace’s two touchdown catches have been memorable, with his first coming in the Dolphins’ 33-20 upset of the New England Patriots in the season opener from 14 yards when he wrestled the ball away from Darrelle Revis. The following week he made a one-handed grab in the left corner of the end zone at the Buffalo Bills in a 29-10 loss.

Philbin said he has seen significant improvement in Wallace’s play.

“I think his play speed is better this year so far and he’s playing faster,” Philbin said. “I think he’s more comfortable just being a Miami Dolphin, forget about the offense, forget about where he’s lining up or motion or what routes he’s running. I just think compared to 12 months ago he feels better about where he is on the Miami Dolphins, period.”

As comfortable as Wallace seems, he knows how important this next game is and how vital it is that he find a way to become that deep threat he was brought here to be. Big plays are what he wants to produce more of for his team.

“Everybody wants to be involved in the offense and it’s a lot more fun when you’re involved,” said Wallace, who was among the league leaders in average yards per catch during his first four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 17.5. “I want to be more productive. I don’t want to just be in the offense catching passes, I want to do something with the passes when I do catch them.”

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Online:

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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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