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Eagles running back McCoy baffled by his struggles

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — LeSean McCoy has no excuses for his poor start.

While coach Chip Kelly insists injuries on the offensive line are the reason why the Philadelphia Eagles have struggled to run the ball effectively, the All-Pro running back points to himself.

“I’m just not getting it done,” McCoy said. “I don’t know what to tell you.”

McCoy led the NFL with a franchise-record 1,607 yards rushing last year, helping the Eagles win the NFC East title. He set 2,000 yards as his goal this season. At this rate, 1,000 yards will be tough. McCoy had 192 yards and averaged just 2.7 yards per carry in the first month.

“I’m still confident. I know what I can do,” McCoy said. “It doesn’t really bother me that much. We’re winning games. We’re 3-1. At times it can be frustrating, but at the end of the day I know who I am.”

The Eagles had stability and consistency on their offensive line in 2013. The same five players started all 17 games, including a playoff game. Left tackle Jason Peters and left guard Evan Mathis were All-Pro picks and center Jason Kelce had an excellent season.

Mathis injured his knee in Week 1 and won’t return before November. Kelce had sports hernia surgery last week and is out indefinitely. Right tackle Lane Johnson, the No. 4 pick last year, missed the first four games because of a suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. His backup, Allen Barbre, sustained a season-ending ankle injury in the opener.

When the Eagles host the St. Louis Rams (1-2) on Sunday, they’ll be starting their fourth line combination in five games. Johnson’s return means Todd Herremans moves back to right guard, giving the Eagles three-fifths of their original starters.

“I got my boy Lane back,” McCoy said. “Hopefully it works out. That definitely helps. I got used to those guys and I know how well they block. Last year, I had the whole entire line healthy for 16 games. They did tremendous. Hopefully everything will work out. I don’t know if I can tell you exactly what’s going on. The truth of the matter is, we’re not getting it done.”

Kelly showed no confidence in the makeshift line when he called pass plays on two cracks from the 1 late in the fourth quarter in a 26-21 loss at San Francisco. Nick Foles threw consecutive incompletions and the 49ers held.

McCoy finished with 17 yards on 10 carries last week. He ran for 22 yards on 19 carries in a 37-34 win over Washington in Week 3.

“I think LeSean is kind of playing the way he played last year,” Kelly said. “Specifically, if you look at last week’s tape, there wasn’t a lot there, and it was tough sledding for anybody that was carrying the football last Sunday.

“We’re not blocking very well at wide receiver, at offensive line, at tight end, anywhere. You look at our production in the run game and it’s not where it should be,” Kelly said. “So there’s not one specific area. I think everybody from a blocking standpoint needs to improve.”

McCoy was one of the top three picks, if not No. 1 overall, in many fantasy football drafts, so plenty of fans are waiting for him to break out of his slump. He has only one score while backup Darren Sproles has two rushing touchdowns.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” McCoy said. “You know what type of player you are and you want to put the numbers up. If teams do come in to try and stop you and they’re successful with it, that’s another frustrating thing.”

Defenses play to stop the run against the Eagles, putting an extra defender in the box. That allowed Foles to take advantage with some play-action fakes. He led the NFL in yards passing through the first three weeks before a subpar performance against San Francisco.

“I just think we need to execute better,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said.

NOTES: LB Mychal Kendricks didn’t practice again Thursday because of a calf injury. He’s expected to miss his third straight game Sunday. Emmanuel Acho and Casey Matthews continue to fill in for him. “They are giving you what they have got and they are both very intelligent football players who can key and diagnose very well,” Kelly said. … CB Brandon Boykin returned to practice. He has a hamstring injury.

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

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

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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