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Russell Wilson smart and safe as a running QB

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Every so often, even though he’s proven time and again that when angry defenders are trying to chase him down he will make the smart decision, Russell Wilson will get a little reminder in his ear.

Often it’s Pete Carroll with yet another word of caution for Wilson: If the Seattle Seahawks quarterback is going to run, be wise, not careless.

“He gets it; the competitor in him needs to be reminded every once and a while but I usually get a really good response,” Carroll said. “He knows and acknowledges that he’s going to try and get out of harm’s way every chance he gets.”

Wilson’s ability to get out of the pocket and run will always be part of what he brings to the position and has helped separate him in just his third season.

But the reality about Wilson is he’s not a running quarterback. Wilson is a scrambler, almost always running so he can try to get the ball to his receivers. Sometimes Wilson decides the best option is to tuck the ball, pick up as many yards as he can and find safety, whether that’s sliding or getting out of bounds.

Such was the case on Monday night, when Wilson took advantage of Washington not respecting his running ability. The result was 122 yards rushing, some of the yards coming by design, but many being improvised.

“I try to slow it down as much as I can. I try to be very clear-minded and keep my eyes down field. I trust what I see and if it’s not there just salvage the play,” Wilson said. “That’s something I learned at a young age. My dad used to always tell me when I was younger to just salvage the play, move onto the next play.”

Wilson’s past two games were a clinic in the balance between his threat of running and being a traditional pocket passer. When Seattle beat Denver 26-20 in overtime on Sept. 20, Wilson decided during the extra session he wasn’t about to give Peyton Manning another possession. That meant running. Twice Wilson converted third downs with scramble runs, leading to Marshawn Lynch’s game-winning TD.

“I knew that I had to fight for it. Sometimes in a game, you have to pick and choose, when to stay in there a little bit longer, when to throw it, and when to slide,” Wilson said after the win. “And that’s not one of those times, I don’t believe. I’m usually pretty smart on getting down and running out of bounds or whatever, but when the game is on the line and you have Peyton Manning over there on the other side, you know you have to make some plays.”

Against Washington, Wilson and the Seahawks ran by design early in the game, a nod to late in his rookie season, when Seattle first introduced the zone-read as part of its offense. Two of his first four carries were designed keepers, but of his 11 total carries, six were pass plays where Wilson tucked and ran.

“He’s smarter and more aware of everything that we ask of him now and he will continue to get better,” Carroll said.

Wilson has managed to keep his running as part of Seattle’s game plan without exposing himself to injury. Wilson is not a long-strider like Colin Kaepernick. He doesn’t have the size to run with the brute force and speed of Cam Newton. And Wilson certainly doesn’t have the speed or elusiveness of Robert Griffin III as a runner.

Since the start of the 2012 season, Wilson has the third-most rushing attempts and fourth-most yards rushing of any quarterback in the NFL. He’s tied with Griffin for the second-most runs that have gone for first downs with 66, both trailing far behind Newton’s 97. But Wilson has an understanding of situation. More than half of his yards and first-down runs have come in the second half and overtime.

For one small stretch of his rookie season, Wilson could be considered a runner when the Seahawks turned to the zone-read to give a little extra kick to their offense. During the final eight games of that season, Wilson ran for 361 yards.

Usually when Wilson gets out of the pocket, he wants the ball out of his hands. The team has acknowledged it wants to be the “best scrambling team” in the NFL. Receivers have spots they’ll try to reach when the play breaks down and keep an eye on whether Wilson’s about to throw their way or if it’s time to block.

“Scramble rules just kind of develop when he gets out of the pocket,” Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin said. “We run our route and if he scrambles out of the pocket we’ll hear the crowd cheering or look at the big screen and see him out of the pocket and we just play backyard football and get open for him.”

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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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