Skip to main content

Manning in comfort zone in new Giants offense

By WTOP Staff

TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Eli Manning is finding his comfort zone in the New York Giants’ new West Coast offense.

After a couple off iffy performances, the 11-year veteran hit 75 percent of his passes (21 of 28), threw two touchdowns and did not turn the ball over in a 30-17 win over Houston on Sunday. His quarterback rating was a whopping 123.2.

Manning had help. His line protected him and opened holes for Rashad Jennings to rush for a career-high 176 yards. His receivers also made big plays.

Manning knew it would just be a matter of time before he got on the same page with the rest of the offense.

“It’s coming around,” Manning said Tuesday after the Giants (1-2) practiced for Thursday night’s game against the Redskins (1-2). “You need some live games. Practice is one thing. Live games are different. It’s a different speed, a different pace. It’s seeing things. That’s where you get your best reps and a better feel for things.”

Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo felt the offense made progress Sunday, gaining 419 yards while holding the ball for more than 32 minutes.

The most noticeable changes are the quickness in which the Giants are getting to the line of scrimmage and Manning’s comfort in calling the plays and having the time to make the right read.

In the opening two losses, he seemed frustrated. He didn’t have enough time to throw, and he and his receivers were just a tad off on their timing or their location.

A sprained ankle in the season finale against Washington forced Manning to miss some workouts in the offseason, but he been making progress since training camp opened.

“I think he’s grown each week. He’s done the types of things he has to do,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “He controls the no-huddle very, very well. He’s communicated well with receivers and with the offensive line in terms of changing protections when necessary. He’s thrown the ball well. He’s throwing it in good rhythm. His feet have been good.”

Manning still has his moments that make people shake their heads. In the second quarter Sunday after New York got a first down at its own 39 on an 18-yard run by Jennings, the Giants went play action, and Manning looked deep down the middle for Rueben Randle. The Texans weren’t fooled and had double coverage. Manning threw the pass anyway and was lucky it was not intercepted.

It was a mistake that showed Manning, who had a career-high 27 interceptions last season, and the Giants still have a ways to go in making the new offense work.

Tight end Larry Donnell, who leads the team with 18 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown, said he sees Manning making the throws every day in practice.

“He’s got it,” he said. “It was just getting everyone on the same page and everybody being where he expected us to be — on time.”

Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka smiled when told that about two dozen quarterbacks have played for NFC East teams since Manning became the Giants’ starter midway through his rookie season in 2004.

“That’s a testament to his preparation and skill level,” Kiwanuka said. “He gets beat down a lot when we lose, but he should get praised equally as much when we win. He had a tremendous game. He came out, prepared in the face of everybody talking bad about him.”

NOTES: First-round draft pick Odell Beckham Jr. (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis for the first time in more than a month. He probably will not play Thursday. … S Quintin Demps played with the first unit Thursday. Stevie Brown started Sunday against Houston and was replaced for poor play by rookie Nat Berhe. Giants have not said who will start against Washington. … LB Jon Beason also practiced on a limited basis, but his status for Thursday is uncertain. He did not play Sunday.

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote