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49ers aiming to keep Rams down

By WTOP Staff

R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two straight wins might have quieted down talk about Jim Harbaugh’s future with the San Francisco 49ers. At least a little.

Another win on Monday night against a team prone lately to self-destruction would further distance the franchise from a shaky 1-2 start and bring the Niners closer to rejoining the NFL’s elite.

Not, mind you, that their prickly coach seems bothered by rumors about job security.

“No, that just seems like warmed-up oatmeal to me,” Harbaugh said on a conference call with St. Louis reporters.

The St. Louis Rams (1-3) still believe Year 3 under Jeff Fisher can be their breakthrough. But only if they stop beating themselves.

“I think we’re better than that,” quarterback Austin Davis. “We need to show it.”

Prime time seems to agree with the 49ers (3-2), who have won six in a row on Monday night. They’ll lean most on a defense ranked second in the NFL with no apparent weaknesses, one that has succeeded by going back to basics.

“I think the last couple years it’s kind of been the M.O. with us,” defensive end Justin Smith said. “We’ve come out, gone 1-2 and then we kind of just settle back to fundamental football.

“Basic, old school football.”

The Rams rank among the league leaders in penalties, many of them pre-snap infractions and many others reflecting a lack of discipline. They allowed three easy touchdowns last week at Philadelphia, including a blocked punt 27 seconds into the game, and a late flurry from 27 points down fell short.

One of the more persistent offenders on special teams, Ray Ray Armstrong, was released the day after the loss.

“This is not a scapegoat. You guys know me,” Fisher told reporters. “But we needed to make a change and go a different direction.”

Here are some things to watch for in 49ers-Rams:

SAN FRANCISCO TREAT: This weekend, the 49ers and Giants will be staying at the same hotel.

The Giants are seeking their third World Series title in five seasons and open their best-of-seven NL Championship Series against the Cardinals on Saturday night. Harbaugh took part in the 2012 World Series parade, but doesn’t know Giants manager Bruce Bochy well and wasn’t planning on attending any of the games.

“I haven’t had that many conversations with Bruce,” Harbaugh said, “but I’m a big fan. I would love to run into him, yes.”

ONE SACK, SO WHAT?: San Francisco’s offensive line doesn’t have much interest in discussing the fact St. Louis has managed just one sack so far — perhaps a sign of a lacking pass rush.

Not so, says Niners right guard Alex Boone. Not the way Fisher likes to mix things up and keep opponents guessing on both sides of the ball.

“I think it’s deceptive. That’s what they’re known for, their front four,” Boone said. “They can hurt you and it can be a long game. We have to shut them down early.”

The Rams had anticipated more sacks under new coordinator Gregg Williams and are getting pressure if nothing else.

“It’s about time we got that breakout game,” Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers said.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick counts on some new looks with Fisher running the show.

“They always have something up their sleeve,” he said. “They’re going to have different looks, different blitzes. Always something new you’re going to have to be ready for.”

DAVIS’ PROGRESS: Quarterback is not the problem for the Rams. Austin Davis, the fourth-stringer in August behind even rookie Garrett Gilbert, is coming off consecutive 300-yard passing games and almost brought the team back to a win last week.

“It’s for us to determine whether he’s a starting quarterback in this league or not,” 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said. “All we know is he’s starting for them, that makes him a starting quarterback.”

It’ll be tough for the Rams to build on that momentum.

“It’s probably our biggest challenge across the board,” Davis said.

PENALTY PHASE: Rams players are well aware they’ve got to cut down on mistakes. They don’t need Fisher to take punitive measures like extra wind sprints.

“Week in and week out, we constantly shoot ourselves in the foot,” defensive end Robert Quinn said. “We have to eliminate those if we want to start putting Ws on the board.

“Some things you really can’t control, but we have to be a little more focused.”

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

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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