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49ers’ Reid ready for Rams’ quarterback

By WTOP Staff

RICK EYMER
Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco safety Eric Reid doesn’t pay attention to statistics, so it was news to him that the 49ers are ranked fourth in the NFC in passing defense and second in total defense.

“I’m more concerned about bringing a good defensive game,” Reid said before the 49ers left Saturday for St. Louis and their Monday night game against the Rams. “It’s always on a week-to-week basis. We didn’t defend the run very well the first week against Dallas, so we came back and worked to improve that.”

The 49ers allow an average of 209 passing yards. One of the teams ahead of them in pass defense is the Rams, who allow 192.3 yards a game through the air.

Rams quarterback Austin Davis, who opened the season third on the depth chart, has the NFC’s fourth-best rating and is coming off his second straight 300-yard passing game.

“He looks like a standard NFL quarterback,” Reid said. “He manages the offense. He’s there for a reason despite where he started the season.”

San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh acknowledged that he was unaware of Davis at Southern Mississippi. The undrafted quarterback is in his third professional season, though he’s playing for the first time.

“I wish I would’ve been more aware of him. He looks like a real nice prospect,” Harbaugh said. “I am now.”

Harbaugh said he got excited about the Rams’ game with the Philadelphia Eagles as he watched the coaching tape, even though he knew the outcome.

“It was one of the rare times,” he said. “To watch them come back, sparks were flying. This was a quarterback that was making throws, an offense that was making plays. And then the last drive, they had a chance to win the game and I’m like, ‘Maybe they got the score wrong. Maybe the Rams really won this game,’ because he made a couple of throws in that drive there that were right on the money and gave his team the chance to win.”

Davis, who became the first St. Louis quarterback with back-to-back 300-yard and three-touchdown games since Kurt Warner in 2001, has been fearless in his willingness to challenge the secondary.

“He’s got a knack of throwing the ball in traffic,” Harbaugh said. “He can have guys hanging on him, around him, and he’s able to get the ball out at the last second. Playing with no conscious about throwing the ball down the field and deep.”

Reid said those deep threats were a source of concern for the 49ers and held their attention during preparation.

Rookie outside linebacker Aaron Lynch, who converted from defensive end, has seen his playing time increase weekly. He’s seen action in every game and has a pair of tackles. He’s still looking for his first career sack.

“It’s going to be exciting,” he said. “I mean, a sack is a sack and a tackle is a tackle. I don’t really differentiate between them. One is just behind the line.”

NOTES: LB NaVorro Bowman (torn ACL) may be getting closer to returning. He did some running at Saturday’s practice but Harbaugh said “he’s getting better but he has to be close to 100 percent before he plays again.” … The 49ers released QB Josh Johnson on Friday, though Harbaugh still considers him one of the team’s quarterbacks. … CB Tramaine Brock (toe) is out. T Anthony Davis (knee, ankle) did not practice Saturday and is listed as questionable. TE Vernon Davis (back), C Marcus Martin (knee) and LB Nick Moody (hamstring) were limited in practice and listed as questionable. CB Chris Cook (quad), DE Tony Jerod-Eddie (shoulder), P Andy Lee (ankle), DE Ray McDonald (knee) and DT Ian Williams (ankle) all took part in practice and are all listed as probable.

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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