Skip to main content

Titans desperate to end skid against winless Jags

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Pro Football Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Coming off the worst blown lead at home in NFL history and with four straight losses, the Tennessee Titans certainly are in no position to take any team lightly.

Especially not the winless Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars got their first win of 2013 against Tennessee, snapping a 13-game skid. It’s part of an ugly run for the Titans who also became the first team to lose to the Jaguars in Jacksonville in 2012. Completing the unenviable hat trick, Tennessee also became the first team to lose to the previously winless Colts in 2011.

The Titans now have a new coach in Ken Whisenhunt, and he says they haven’t talked much about this team’s history with the Jaguars.

“We’re certainly aware of the success that they’ve had coming into here,” Whisenhunt said. “I’m not talking about what their record was. They have won here, and we have to be ready.”

Cornerback Jason McCourty noted the Titans (1-4) have only one more win than the Jaguars (0-5), and they need to prove to their home fans they can finish after blowing a 28-3 lead last Sunday, losing 29-28 to Cleveland. The Titans have lost seven of their last eight home games.

“It’s going to be a tough game for us,” McCourty said. “For us to focus on the fact that they’re winless would be dumb for us.”

The Jaguars gave Gus Bradley his first win as a head coach here last November. But they are deep in a complete rebuild with 435 roster moves since he and general manager David Caldwell took over last year. Bradley sees no carry-over from that win.

“I can speak for us, we’re a totally different team than we were last year,” Bradley said. “I think we have 10 new starters on offense compared to last year. A lot of our guys weren’t here, so it’s completely different.”

Rookie quarterback Blake Bortles will be making his third start since replacing Chad Henne, and the Jaguars are coming off a 17-9 loss to Pittsburgh at home that was their closest yet.

Here are some things to watch for Sunday:

WHITEHURST, TAKE 2: Titans quarterback Jake Locker’s injured right thumb means backup Charlie Whitehurst could start for the second time in three games. Whitehurst, a nine-year veteran, is coming off the best game of his career despite the loss to the Browns. Whitehurst had career highs with 194 yards passing, two touchdowns and a 123.9 passer rating. His two TDs came on consecutive passes, including a career-long 75-yarder to Justin Hunter.

ROLLING WITH ROOKIES: The Jaguars started an NFL-high seven rookies, including six on offense, last week against Pittsburgh. Jacksonville also has five second-year players in the starting lineup, making it one of the youngest and least-experienced teams in the league. Bradley knows the youngsters, especially Bortles, will make some mistakes early on. But he’s counting on them playing more like veterans late.

“It’s a challenge that we accept,” Bradley said.

BANGED-UP TENNESSEE: This will be the first game for the Titans without safety Bernard Pollard (ruptured Achilles tendon) and left tackle Michael Roos (right knee). Pollard was their leading tackler last season, and Roos had played more games than any NFL offensive lineman since 2005.

Veteran George Wilson replaces Pollard, but the Titans are going with rookie Taylor Lewan at left tackle for his first start. The No. 11 pick overall out of Michigan already has two penalties in limited play, and he was flagged for unnecessary roughness last week.

Whisenhunt said he got in the rookie’s ear after that penalty.

“Obviously, he’s got to understand his perception in the league now,” Whisenhunt said.

RUNNING ON EMPTY: Jacksonville ranks 31st in the league in rushing, averaging just 67 yards a game, and now starter Toby Gerhart (foot), Jordan Todman (ankle) and Storm Johnson (ankle) are banged-up. They all practiced in some capacity this week, but it’s unclear how healthy they will be against the Titans. Bradley would like to see more runs than the 15 the Jaguars had against the Steelers. That might mean reeling in Bortles, who changed seven running plays to passes in the loss.

CLEAN IT UP: The Jaguars may be young with lots of new faces, but they haven’t been hurting themselves with penalties. They have been flagged only 22 times for 180 yards. The Titans are one of the most-penalized teams in the league with 41 for 375 yards, and they were flagged for six personal fouls last week even if a couple were offset.

___ AP Sports Writer Mark Long contributed to this report from Jacksonville, Florida.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

___

Follow Teresa M. Walker on Twitter: http://twitter.com/teresamwalker

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote