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Atlanta’s running game shows definite improvement

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Matt Ryan has received plenty of accolades for his mammoth passing numbers in the opening month of the season. Another came Wednesday, when the Atlanta Falcons quarterback was named NFC offensive player of the week.

Ryan prefers to recognize another group that isn’t getting quite so much attention.

The running game.

A point of emphasis throughout the offseason, the Falcons (2-1) have shown noticeable improvement on the ground by sharing the load among Steven Jackson and three other backs.

Atlanta heads into Sunday’s game against Minnesota averaging 121.3 yards rushing, which ranks 16th in the league. A year ago, the Falcons had the worst running attack in the NFL at just 77.9 yards per game.

“I really like where our run game is at,” Ryan said.

The Falcons had plenty of room for improvement after last season, when Jackson battled injuries and the offensive line got pushed around. Atlanta averaged just 3.9 yards per carry, eclipsed 100 yards only three times, and wound up with its lowest rushing total since 2000.

“That’s the first thing we wanted to address,” said Jacquizz Rodgers, one of Jackson’s backups. “We wanted to get the running game going. We know what we can do with the passing game. If we become a more balanced team, we can become a better team.”

At 31, Jackson is still the starter but no longer gets most of the carries, as he did during his long tenure with the St. Louis Rams. That has taken a bit of getting used to, but he seems accepting of his new role.

Rodgers, Antone Smith and rookie Devonta Freeman all provide a change of pace to the lumbering Jackson, an element the Falcons are determined to use to their full advantage.

“It’s a good thing for us that we’ve got backs with different skill sets,” Ryan said. “It makes the defense have to defend a little bit more.”

Jackson is hoping less carries will extend his career and make everyone more effective.

“As a guy who prides himself on being the bell cow, I’m not sure how much rhythm I can get into,” he said. “But it definitely keeps me young.”

Freeman, a fourth-round pick out of Florida State, has already proven to be useful both as a runner and as a target out of the backfield (five catches for 47 yards).

“My mindset was to come in and help push the veterans,” Freeman said.

The running game has produced some big plays — Rodgers’ 17-yard touchdown in the season-opening win over New Orleans, Smith’s 38-yard scamper for a TD in last week’s 56-14 blowout of Tampa Bay. Also, there has been some impressive displays of versatility, such as receiver Devin Hester scoring on a 20-yard reverse and Smith turning a short pass into a 54-yard touchdown.

Ryan is just as impressed with the less-glamorous yards.

In Week 1, Rodgers ran for a 2-yard gain on third-and-1 to keep a drive going early in the third quarter, helping spark a comeback from a 13-point deficit. Against the Buccaneers, Jackson got the ball in the same situation and turned in one of his most impressive runs with the Falcons, powering for 7 yards to set up Atlanta’s first touchdown.

“Those are the kind of things that, if you’re rolling, you don’t really notice,” center Joe Hawley said. “But if you’re not getting them, you do notice. Those are really important to keep drives going.”

Ryan made sure to remind everyone that the offensive line, which took a huge share of the blame for last year’s 4-12 record, has played a big role in the running game’s resurgence.

While the team drafted left tackle Jake Matthews with the No. 6 overall pick, the most important change may have been on the coaching staff, where former Vikings head coach Mike Tice took charge of the line.

Tice said bluntly that he didn’t find much to like on last year’s film, and he challenged the guys up front to get stronger and show more toughness.

Clearly, they’ve taken his message to heart.

Not only has the running game improved, but Ryan has been sacked just four times. He went down a career-high 44 times last season and took more hits than any other quarterback.

“Having coach Tice here has helped a lot,” Hawley said. “He has an attitude to him. We’re not playing as individuals, we’re playing as a team.”

Notes: Hester was named NFC special teams player of the week after setting an NFL record with his 20th return for a touchdown. … WR Roddy White (hamstring) and LB Prince Shembo (cramps) were limited in practice Wednesday.

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AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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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