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Plenty of new faces in the Falcons lineup

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — When the Atlanta Falcons returned to practice Wednesday, it looked a bit like training camp.

Who’s that at center? And right tackle? And left guard?

Oh, and is that someone new at strong safety?

The Falcons (2-2) are all beat up, coming off a game in which two starters on the offensive line (center Joe Hawley and right tackle Lamar Holmes) sustained season-ending injuries, while strong safety William Moore went down for at least eight weeks with a shoulder problem.

Not to mention, left guard Justin Blalock — the senior member of the line — is hobbled with a foot injury that kept him from practicing for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

“It’s tough. Any time you have guys go down, it makes it difficult,” quarterback Matt Ryan said. “I just feel bad for those guys. They’ve put so much effort into getting themselves ready. They’ve been playing well.”

The injuries could have the biggest impact on Ryan, playing behind a line that, for now, only has one starter (right guard John Asamoah) in the same spot where he began training camp.

Left tackle Sam Baker was lost for the year in a preseason game, forcing first-round pick Jake Matthews to move from the right to the left side. Holmes started the first four games at right tackle, but that spot is now filled by jack-of-all-trades Gabe Carimi. Hawley will be replaced at center by former starter Peter Konz, who struggled mightily in 2013. If Blalock can’t go, Harland Gunn might start in his place.

Gunn worked with the first team on Wednesday.

Until Tuesday, he was on the practice squad.

“It’s part of the deal,” Ryan said. “You’re going to have to have guys step up. Roles are constantly changing. You’ve got to be able to adapt. I think we’ve got the guys to be able to adapt to it.”

Much of the focus will be on Konz, a second-round pick in 2012 who was supposed to be the successor to long-time center Todd McClure. Konz performed so poorly a year ago that the Falcons finally moved him from center to guard, hoping to cover up some of his weaknesses. Now, he’s back at his natural position, eager to show he’s improved after an intensive offseason program designed to build his strength and cut down his body fat.

“It’s important to be vocal, to not question yourself, to be on the same page with Matt,” Konz said. “I know that stepping in right now, I’ve got to make it mine.”

Carimi is the most versatile player of the bunch, having already filled in at left tackle when Matthews was sidelined in Week 2 and now shifting over to the right side to replace Holmes. Carimi could even play left guard if the Falcons decide Gunn isn’t a viable option for Blalock, which would leave right tackle to undrafted second-year player Ryan Schraeder.

It’s enough to make Carimi’s head spin.

“There’s no undermining that,” he said. “It’s hard to do all that stuff.”

Ryan, who was sacked a career-high 44 times and hit more than 200 times behind a makeshift line last season, tried to give some encouraging words to the guys charged with protecting him Sunday.

“It’s a great chance for them to showcase what they can do and how good they can be,” Ryan said. “Cut it loose, enjoy it, and play with a lot of confidence.”

The loss of Moore of nearly as troublesome on the defensive side, especially since top linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is already out for the year. They were that unit’s most vocal leaders, and it’s not clear who will fill the void. Moore will be replaced by Kemal Ishmael, a seventh-round pick in 2013 who returned an interception for a touchdown in Week 3 against Tampa Bay.

“William is the general of our defense,” Ishmael said. “I’m going to try to do the best impersonation I can.”

While walking through the locker room, offensive line coach Mike Tice tried to make light of all the injuries.

“I’m trying to figure out who’s playing,” he said with a smile.

Someone suggested he might have to suit up.

“If I’m playing,” Tice replied, looking down at his 55-year-old body, “we’re going to lose.”

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://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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