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Bears’ Briggs could see depth in offseason

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Lance Briggs saw teammates stepping up and showing their potential in the offseason so he’s not exactly stunned by what the Chicago Bears are doing at the moment.

They bring a two-game winning streak into Sunday’s game against Green Bay despite a growing list of injuries that is testing their depth.

Unlike last year, the Bears are getting a passing grade.

“I was encouraged in the offseason watching guys fly around, and the potential,” Briggs said. “I’m sure our coaches were, too. Now that the pads are on and we’re getting real tests, guys are showing that it’s not just potential. A lot of these guys are impact players for the Bears.”

The Bears gave their defense a big makeover after it got shredded by injuries and ranked among the worst in franchise history. They signed five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen from Minnesota to bolster their pass rush and run defense.

They also brought in Lamarr Houston and Willie Young, but it wasn’t just the veterans they added. It was the young players, too, and the depth they’re showing on defense has helped the Bears bounce back from a season-opening loss to Buffalo at home with victories on both coasts.

They beat the New York Jets 27-19 on Monday night after taking out Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers the previous week, when many were just about ready to write off the Bears this season.

Now, here come the Packers and Aaron Rodgers.

He will scramble. He will test their discipline. The Bears know what they’re in for, that they’re facing another challenge. But they’re also showing some depth on defense. That at least bodes well for them.

Young already has a career-high four sacks.

They’ve leaned on rookies like Kyle Fuller and defensive tackles Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton because of injuries.

Fuller was supposed to be the nickel back, but he got thrust into a bigger role when Charles Tillman suffered a season-ending arm injury. He picked off two passes against San Francisco and had another interception against the Jets while jarring loose two fumbles.

Ferguson and Sutton, filling in for Jeremiah Ratliff, helped the Bears hold the Jets, who were ranked No. 1 in rushing, to 114 yards on the ground.

“When we were in OTAs and stuff like that, he was a guy who was putting himself in position,” Briggs said. “The ball was in the air and he was in a position to compete. So when you see stuff like that, or getting interceptions there, you know this guy has the potential to do that once the season comes in. And now that the season’s in he’s made some big plays in big games. Those are impact plays.”

The Bears will probably need a few of those if they’re going to get past the Packers. Rodgers has tortured them over the years, with a 9-3 record and a 68.4 completion percentage. That doesn’t include Green Bay’s win in the NFC championship game four years ago.

Even though the Bears are winning despite their injuries, the defense still ranks 23rd overall and 26th against the run. That’s not quite what they envisioned.

Allen does not have a sack, the first time he’s failed to register one in the first three games, but defensive coordinator Mel Tucker insisted he’s making an impact even if he’s not taking down the quarterback.

“He does a lot for us on the field,” Tucker said. “First and foremost, he’s committed to being a run defender. He sets the tone for those guys up front. He talks about it and he also backs it up with his actions the way he practices, the way he plays, in terms of the run game. He provides great leadership for us and plays with a very, very high motor. He has a relentless mentality. He’s always applying pressure by the way he plays, and I think that helps the other guys.”

NOTES: LB Shea McClellin will miss his second straight game because of a hand injury. Coach Marc Trestman called McClellin “week to week” and said he will not play Sunday. He is “not optimistic” about C Roberto Garza and LG Matt Slauson returning from their ankle injuries this week. … Had the Bears practiced Wednesday, WR Brandon Marshall (ankle), Allen (illness), FB Tony Fiammetta (hamstring), CB Sherrick McManis (quadriceps) and Ratliff (concussion) would not have participated. Safeties Chris Conte and Ryan Mundy would have been limited because of shoulder injuries.

___

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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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