If there was one moment that summed up England's performance in the field in Nottingham, it came in the 46th over.
Joe Root, at point, had just pulled off a fine save in the field to prevent a well-timed cut from Sarfaraz Ahmed. But then, with Sarfraz just out of his ground, Root threw fiercely at the stumps only to see the ball bissect the fielders backing up and concede four over-throws. It was reflective of a somewhat messy showing that was in marked contrast to their excellence at The Oval.
The nadir of England's performance in the field came with Jason Roy's dropping of Mohammad Hafeez. It was, by any standards, a straightforward chance: a mis-hit drive spooned up to long-off; a chance that, at this level, would be expected to be held every time. But the chance went down - Roy seemed to suggest the sun had caused him some difficulty; it didn't seem obviously apparent that it should have done - and Hafeez, who was on 14 at the time, went on to top-score for Pakistan with 84.
All sides drop the odd catch, of course. But the real issue for England here was that it wasn't so much an aberration as reflective of England's general performance in the field. ESPNcricinfo's figures suggest there were 13 mis-fields in all.
In the first over of the innings, Eoin Morgan failed to stop a routine effort at point to concede an unnecessary boundary. Maybe he was slightly worried about his recently fractured finger - he insists it is fine - but it was an out-of-character error that seemed to set the tone for his side's efforts. It was a fielding performance that would have had Nasir Jamshed or Monty Panesar tutting at their TV screens in disgust.
Some will blame complacency. But even the sub fielder, James Vince, fumbled a simple ball on the boundary that conceded an extra run. It is hard to believe Vince, who has played only 10 ODIs and is fighting to gain a place in the side, could be complacent.
It seems more likely that concentration was the issue. A combination of nerves, a full house - many of them vocally supporting Pakistan - and the sense of expectation growing upon this England side, might have resulted in these fumbles. Either way, it will be a worry for an England side that prided itself on its performance at The Oval.
It wasn't a uniform story, though. Jos Buttler, one of the few men who endured a modest game in the field at The Oval, took a sharp stumping, while Chris Woakes held onto a World Cup-record four outfield catches; one of them an outstanding effort on the long-on boundary. No non-keeper has ever taken more catches in an ODI for England. Jonny Bairstow, sweeping on the cover boundary, could also feel satisfied with his work, while Moeen Ali bowled especially well.
The rest? It was an oddly sloppy-looking performance that, according to ESPNcricinfo's figures, saw England concede 17 more runs than might be expected. Combined with the 11 wides their bowlers gave way, it left England chasing nearly 30 more than might have been the case.
England's problems were not limited to the fielding, either. With Adil Rashid proving expensive (he went for 43 from five overs), Eoin Morgan only felt able to allow him five overs. Partially as a result, their over-rate suffered to the extent that there were more than three overs remaining by the time England would have been expected to complete their overs. In all, Pakistan's innings over-ran by 19 minutes.
It's only a few games since Morgan served a one-match suspension for repeated over-rate violations. While there is an amnesty on such issues for global events like this, the possibility that Morgan could be censured again here is very real. While that may only amount to a fine, it will remain on his record and be taken into account should England over-run again. Coming at this stage of the tournament, it is also a real concern. England do not want to be without their captain for the latter stages of the competition.
For that to be relevant, though, they need to get there. And if they field like this, there is no guarantee at all of that.
Ottis Gibson, South Africa's coach, says that his team will need to channel the spirit of Anthony Joshua, and dust themselves down following a damaging defeat against Bangladesh at The Oval on Sunday, a result that has left their World Cup campaign in serious jeopardy.
After losing the tournament opener, against England at The Oval on Thursday, South Africa's 21-run defeat against Bangladesh has left them with a record of no wins in two matches going into Wednesday's crunch clash with India in Southampton.
And with Lungi Ngidi set to miss both that match and potentially the West Indies game in Southampton on June 10 after picking up a hamstring strain, Gibson admitted that the squad would need some geeing-up in the midst of a mounting crisis of confidence.
"We were expecting to win today, we were trying to win today, but we got beaten by a better team, and we have to try and refocus," Gibson said in the aftermath of the match. "But India is going to be another tough game and there's no place to hide at the World Cup.
"There's no point in sulking around, we've got to get up and think about where we are going wrong, and put better spells of bowling together, and better batting together."
That may, however, be easier said than done - certainly where the bowling is concerned. As South Africa's captain Faf du Plessis admitted after the Bangladesh loss, the glut of injuries to their fastest bowlers has scuppered the plans that Gibson has spent the past two years working towards. The upshot is that South Africa are caught between praying for their injured quicks to return to fitness quickly, and trumpeting the claims of the back-up squad members who may have to hold the fort in the interim.
"We've got to play with the ones that are fit, first of all," said Gibson. "Dale Steyn is getting closer every day, he was on the field today bowling again, he is 85 percent, so we have to decide if 85 percent is good enough to play against India."
It's been a while, however, since Steyn has been a force in white-ball cricket. He has played just 21 ODIs since the 2015 World Cup, which ended with him being struck down the ground for six by Grant Elliott in a pulsating semi-final defeat, and just four matches since the start of 2019.
"His white-ball record overall is outstanding though," said Gibson. "Any team that sees a fit Dale Steyn on the scorecard still sees somebody that he can do some damage.
"The plan for the last two years was to build a bowling attack not just around Steyn but around KG [Rabada] as well, and Lungi. But we lost Lungi and there's a lot more weight on KG's shoulders to get wickets. He bowled well, but he didn't strike, and we need our strike bowlers to strike and our best batters to get runs. That's how the game is played."
If Steyn is not fit, then South Africa may have to improvise with their balance. The seam-bowling allrounder Dwaine Pretorius and the second spinner Tabraiz Shamsi among the men who may be called upon to play in the India match.
"I believe [they are good enough]" Gibson added. "Otherwise they wouldn't be at a World Cup.
"Obviously they are not the first choices in terms of names but we thought they were good enough to be a part of the 15, so they now have to believe that themselves and put their best cricket on the field.
"You keep telling them how good they are, you go back to our best experiences," he added. "We've won eight or nine of our last ten games with the guys in the dressing room, so you keep reminding them of that, and keep showing them what they've done in our recent history."
Gibson insisted though that, however he attempts to elicit a response from his players, he would not be resorting to ranting and raving in the dressing room, and pointed to the shock boxing upset in New York on Saturday night, where Joshua lost his world heavyweight crown to the unfancied Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr.
"There's no anger in me," Gibson said. "It's cricket we're playing, and in sport, there's nothing that says you are going to win because you might be the favourite.
"Look at Anthony Joshua last night, he was the favourite and he got put on the floor. I'm sure he's going to get up and go on to his next fight, and probably win. We must look at that, get ourselves up off the floor, dust ourselves off and put our best game out on the field.
"Losing early isn't always a bad thing when you are learning and improving," he added. "Because when you lose in the last week, you're going home. At the moment we've lost two games and were hurting, but we still have the opportunity to play better.
"If you are going to lose, it's better to lose now than in the first week of July."
Bookmakers are offering near-equal odds on the Sri Lanka-Afghanistan contest in Cardiff, and although there was no way of calling this four years ago, when Sri Lanka were contenders until being blown away by South Africa in Sydney, things are a little different now, especially after their walloping at New Zealand's hands last week.
And if you stopped watching cricket after the retirements of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene and have just tuned back in, here's another staggering statistic: Afghanistan have won more ODIs than Sri Lanka since the last World Cup, despite having played 22 fewer games.
While Dimuth Karunaratne, the Sri Lanka captain, is realistic about his side's chances in the tournament, he is hopeful they can put on a better show than they did against New Zealand. They'll have to script a quick turnaround at a venue where they have never won a cricket match, in six attempts, and on the same pitch on which they were decimated by New Zealand.
For all the progress Afghanistan have made, they haven't really been tested against top sides that often, and a clearer idea of their standing in ODIs will emerge only at the end of this tournament. In their only match so far, they went for broke, perhaps hoping to catch Australia by surprise and get lucky, an approach likelier to succeed in T20s. Over 50 overs, they need their batsmen to exercise a little more caution, though without going into a shell, and give their bowling attack a better opportunity to showcase their skills.
Form guide
Sri Lanka LWLLL (completed matches, most recent first) Afghanistan LWLWL
In the spotlight
Rahmat Shah is Afghanistan's leading run-scorer since the start of 2015, and at No. 3 he provides an old-school solidity. In 26 of his 52 innings during this period, he has had to come in inside the first five overs, which isn't surprising given the gung-ho approach of some of their openers. But as often as he has been able to hold the innings together after the fall of an early wicket, he has been equally guilty of squandering starts, with 47% of his dismissals coming between the scores of 10 and 49. Afghanistan need him to become more consistent and add to his four hundreds and 14 fifties.
Should Angelo Mathews have been the captain of this Sri Lanka side? Should he be batting higher up the order? He certainly needs to be getting his runs at a faster clip. For all middle-order batsmen (Nos. 4 to 7) who have played a minimum of 30 innings since 2016, Mathews has the third worst strike-rate behind Ireland's Gary Wilson and Afghanistan's Asghar Afghan.
Team news
Lasith Malinga has said he is fully fit and Nuwan Pradeep, who was surprisingly left out against New Zealand, bowled quite a bit in the nets on the eve of the match. Sri Lanka might consider bringing in Pradeep for Isuru Udana, whose style of bowling is more suited to drier surfaces than the one expected in Cardiff, particularly with rain around.
Gulbadin Naib defended Mohammad Shahzad despite a duck in the tournament opener, so he should keep his place. But given the conditions at the venue, Afghanistan could consider playing an extra seamer in Aftab Alam instead of Mujeeb ur Rahman, who was taken apart by Australia. Asghar Afghan missed the Australia game with a calf strain, and it is unclear if he is fit to play.
Afghanistan (probable): 1 Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 2 Hazratullah Zazai, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi, 5 Najibullah Zadran, 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Gulbadin Naib (capt), 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Mujeeb-ur-Rahman/Aftab Alam , 10 Hamid Hassan, 11 Dawlat Zadran
Pitch and conditions
Cardiff has been a good chasing ground over the years with teams batting second winning 15 of the 22 completed ODIs here. The average first-innings winning score here is 322 for 8, exemplifying the difficulty in setting totals. There's a possibility of thunderstorms on Tuesday, which should make it even easier for captains to decide whether to bat or bowl if the statistics alone weren't enough.
Strategy punt
Kusal Mendis has shown a vulnerability against right-arm pace and legspin: 43 of his 54 ODI dismissals have come against those two types of bowling. He also struggles to get past the Powerplay, failing to do so 19 of the 41 times he has batted during that phase. Afghanistan should ideally target him with Hamid Hassan and Rashid Khan in tandem.
Since 2015, Thisara Perara has fallen 9 out of 21 times to right-arm legspin and his strike-rate against right-arm offspin is just under 65. That suggests that Afghanistan would benefit by attacking Sri Lanka's big-hitting allrounder with the combination of Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi.
Stats and trivia
From 2010 to 2015, Lasith Malinga's economy rate in the death overs was an exceptional 6.3, but since returning to the side in 2017, it's risen to 8.3.
Sri Lanka have lost all their internationals in Cardiff, five ODIs and one Test.
Quotes
"Players need to get confidence, we need to get mentally tough - at this point you can't change skill. We have to play with a free mind and do our best in tomorrow's game." Lasith Malinga on what Sri Lanka need to do to script a quick turnaround
"Sri Lanka have been struggling in one-day matches in the last one or two years, we have [an] opportunity to do well against them. If we played 50 overs in batting maybe we will beat them but they are also a good team, Sri Lanka, [so] we cannot take [it] easy. Especially for the batters, if we play 50 overs, it could be difficult for them."
Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib on what it will take for his side to topple Sri Lanka
Five Test matches, three against South Africa and two against Bangladesh, will be the highlight of a packed home season for the Indian team - the top-ranked Test team - one in which they will host five teams.
The season kicks off with South Africa's tour in September-October 2019, in which the teams will face off in three Tests - to be played in Visakhapatnam, Ranchi and Pune - and three T20Is. That will be followed by a visit from Bangladesh in November, with the teams playing three T20Is and two Tests, in Indore and Kolkata.
The five Tests will be a part of the ICC's new Test Championship.
West Indies visit next, for a series of three T20Is and three ODIs, all in December, and in January there will be three T20Is against Zimbabwe and three ODIs against Australia. South Africa complete their tour with a three-ODI series in March.
Complete fixtures
South Africa tour of India
September 15: 1st T20I in Dharamsala
September 18: 2nd T20I in Mohali
September 22: 3rd T20I in Bengaluru
October 2-6: 1st Test in Visakhapatnam
October 10-14: 2nd Test in Ranchi
October 19-23: 3rd Test in Pune
Bangladesh tour of India
November 3: 1st T20I in Delhi
November 7: 2nd T20I in Rajkot
November 10: 3rd T20I in Nagpur
November 14-18: 1st Test in Indore
November 22-26: 2nd Test in Kolkata
West Indies tour of India
December 6: 1st T20I in Mumbai
December 8: 2nd T20I in Thiruvananthapuram
December 11: 3rd T20I in Hyderabad
December 15: 1st ODI in Chennai
December 18: 2nd ODI in Visakhapatnam
December 22: 3rd ODI in Cuttack
Zimbabwe tour of India
January 5: 1st T20I in Guwahati
January 7: 2nd T20I in Indore
January 10: 3rd T20I in Pune
Australia tour of India
January 14: 1st ODI in Mumbai
January 17: 2nd ODI in Rajkot
January 19: 3rd ODI in Bengaluru
South Africa tour of India
March 12: 1st ODI in Dharamsala
March 15: 2nd ODI in Lucknow
March 18: 3rd ODI in Kolkata
Josh Heupel, who was the Heisman Trophy runner-up for Oklahoma in 2000, and former North Carolina pass-rushing star Julius Peppers are among 12 players making their first appearance of the College Football Hall of Fame ballot this year.
The Hall of Fame class will also include at least one player from outside the highest level of Division I football. Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who played at Eastern Illinois, is among the first-time eligible candidates in the so-called divisional category.
The National Football Foundation emailed ballots Monday to its more than 12,000 members and current Hall of Famers. Results of the voting are submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, which selects a class of 13 players and two coaches. The 2020 class will be announced in January, before the College Football Playoff championship on Jan. 13.
Among the other first-time candidates are C.J. Spiller of Clemson, Chris Samuels of Alabama and James Laurinaitis of Ohio State. Players become eligible 10 years after their college careers end and when they are done playing professionally.
Heupel, heading into his second season as coach at UCF, was the quarterback for the Sooners when they won their last national championship. Peppers won the Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player and Lombardi Award as the best lineman in 2001 before going on to a 17-year NFL career. He announced his retirement in February.
Among the holdovers on the ballot of 76 major-college players are Heisman Trophy winners Eric Crouch of Nebraska (2001), Carson Palmer of Southern California (2002) and the late Rashaan Salaam (1994) of Colorado.
For coaches to be eligible for induction they must have coached at least 10 years and 100 games with a winning percentage of .600. Darryl Rogers, who coached at Fresno State, San Jose State, Michigan State and Arizona State during a 20-year head coaching career, is one of five coaches on this year's ballot.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jaguars signed receiver Terrelle Pryor on Monday morning, adding another player with questions to a position group that has few certainties.
Pryor -- who has 115 catches for 1,563 yards and seven touchdowns in six seasons -- is the second-most-experienced receiver on the Jaguars' roster. Only Marqise Lee, who missed the 2018 season after suffering a knee injury in the preseason, has more catches (171).
The Jaguars signed Chris Conley (104 catches) in free agency, and three other receivers return from 2018, though two face significant questions. Third-year player Keelan Cole was a major surprise as an undrafted rookie in 2017, leading the team with 748 receiving yards, but was a disappointment in 2018. Cole was benched in October after five drops and two lost fumbles and had just nine catches over the final eight games.
DJ Chark was a second-round draft pick last season -- the Jaguars said they had a first-round grade for him -- but he made more of an impact on special teams than as a receiver. He caught just 14 passes for 174 yards.
Third-year player Dede Westbrook emerged as the Jaguars' top receiver and playmaker last season, catching 66 passes for 717 yards and five touchdowns. The Jaguars scored only four touchdowns in the final five games (one was an interception return) and Westbrook had two of them.
To make room for Pryor on the roster, the Jaguars released defensive lineman Lyndon Johnson.
Pryor, 29, played for the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills last season but was released by both teams after short stays.
The Jets released Pryor on Oct. 20 after he tore a groin muscle. He signed with the Bills 10 days later and said he'd felt "underused" in six games with the Jets to begin the season.
He lasted only two weeks with Buffalo, however, catching two passes for 17 yards. In total, he had 16 receptions for 252 yards and two touchdowns last season.
His best season was 2016, when he caught 77 passes for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games for the Cleveland Browns.
He then signed a one-year deal with the Washington Redskins in 2017, rejecting a multiyear offer by the Browns after his breakout season. But the move didn't work out for Pryor, who finished with just 20 catches for 240 yards and one touchdown in nine games. He eventually needed season-ending ankle surgery in November.
In 2011, the Oakland Raiders picked Pryor, who played quarterback at Ohio State, in the third round of the supplemental draft. He started 10 games at quarterback for the Raiders and appeared in five others over three seasons.
The next phase of the NFL offseason is here, as mandatory minicamps start Tuesday and run through Thursday for nine NFL teams. While voluntary minicamps and rookie camps have value, these are the most important practice sessions in preparation for the 2019 season to date.
Not only do these minicamps provide a taste of what will happen when seasoned veterans combine with rookies and offseason acquisitions for the first time in a mandatory setting, they also offer a glimpse at potential problems down the road. Who doesn't show up can be more newsworthy than who does.
With that said, here are the main things to pay attention to for each of the nine teams that are practicing this week. The remaining 23 squads will take the field on June 11.
The Browns' new No. 1 wide receiver has attended only one voluntary offseason practice because he prefers to work out on his own in California. Mandatory minicamp represents his first extensive chance to work with quarterback Baker Mayfield. If the Browns are going to become the "new Patriots" -- as Beckham suggested to GQ -- Cleveland needs Beckham and Mayfield to build a rapport as quickly as possible. -- Jamison Hensley
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OBJ's custom accessory on his Rolls-Royce is legendary
Odell Beckham Jr. installed a mini figurine of himself and his legendary one-handed catch on the hood of his Rolls-Royce … and it's motorized.
The mandatory minicamp will close out the Broncos' offseason work, and thus far, Flacco has looked like the steady veteran starter the Broncos had hoped for when they traded for him this offseason. But Flacco is going to hear chatter about rookie Drew Lock, the Broncos' offensive failings over the past three seasons and the number of birthdays he has had. Flacco, 34, has to give this team a little "I got this" swagger and run an offense that can attack all parts of the field. If he is locked in, Flacco can set the tone and give the Broncos momentum when they report for training camp in mid-July. -- Jeff Legwold
New offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell has made it clear he wants to run the ball and that he has asked Matthew Stafford to do different things than he has done in the past. What those are, he wouldn't say. But this will be the first extended look at the offense, so it can start to paint a picture of what it will look like and how different it'll be from the Jim Bob Cooter-based offense that Stafford ran previously. Who Stafford sees on defense also will be a question, as both cornerback Darius Slay and defensive tackle Damon Harrison have missed several voluntary workouts. Whether they attend minicamp will be worth paying attention to. -- Michael Rothstein
The final week of the Dolphins' starting quarterback battle before summer break will give us another glimpse of how much progress Rosen has made in the team's new offense. He has spent a month with the team thus far, and he admitted Wednesday he still is working to handle everything Miami asks its quarterbacks to do. Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick has consistently run the starting offense and has been the best quarterback during organized team activities. The battle will heat up this summer, but a good day or two from Rosen could add more fuel to it before the break. -- Cameron Wolfe
For the second year in a row, Brady stayed away from voluntary workouts, so this will be his first chance to work with the entire team and a largely new group of tight ends and wide receivers. Brady, 41, previously said that staying away from voluntary work allowed him to fill his tank so that he is at his best personally, and for the team, when he reports to training camp. He did get some one-on-one time in with first-round draft choice N'Keal Harry, but things should shift to a higher level in mandatory camp. -- Mike Reiss
He already has flashed at times during OTAs. Can he continue to close the gap on starter Eli Manning? One veteran told ESPN recently that Jones has impressed but still has a "long ways to go." The No. 6 overall pick is the future of the franchise. All eyes will be on him once again. -- Jordan Raanan
The Jets' marquee free-agent addition, who has skipped the vast majority of the voluntary workouts, is expected to attend. He has been working out on his own in South Florida, but there's bound to be significant rust, considering he hasn't participated in a team football activity since January 2018 -- a playoff game when he was on the Steelers. Bell, who will meet the New York media for the first time, will have to answer questions about his scrutinized relationship with head coach Adam Gase. -- Rich Cimini
Suh arrived in Tampa on Thursday, and he is having to quickly learn Todd Bowles' defense. He won't be tackling guys to the ground, but he can be disruptive. That would go a long way in easing concerns over Jason Pierre-Paul's injury. It's also worth watching how Suh interacts with the team. Suh has been criticized for not being a team player, and he now will be teammates with Evan Smith, who received Suh's infamous stomp in 2011. Head coach Bruce Arians isn't worried about any of that. "I hope I still see that look in his eye," Arians said. "I can handle the rest; that's easy. I just want to see that look in his eye. I'll be happy." -- Jenna Laine
It's hard to know how much of a chance Haskins has at the starting job at this point. The Redskins wanted to use the spring to gauge where he was at and if he was a serious contender. But there will be more big names around to help determine where everyone is at: tight end Jordan Reed, left tackle Trent Williams and corner Josh Norman. All have been working out elsewhere during the voluntary portions, but having them in camp will help the offense progress -- and will help show where both quarterbacks are in this system. -- John Keim
In early June, fans and teams alike are excited about the incoming draft picks -- especially the first-rounders. Training camp is still weeks away, but teams have had a look at their draft classes during offseason workouts and can start to get an idea of how quickly the first-round selections are adapting to the pro game. Who's off to a quick start? Who will have a hard time cracking the starting lineup? Our NFL Nation reporters share their first impressions of how the first-round picks are performing.
QB Kyler Murray: The only access to Murray on the field is through stretching and individual drills, so it's tough to get a true gauge on how he looks, but one thing is for sure: His passes are crisp. They seem to jump off his hand and his long passes land rather effortlessly. His teammates rave about him. They've praised his speed, accuracy, intelligence and his leadership -- all high marks for the 21-year-old No. 1 overall pick. -- Josh Weinfuss
DE Nick Bosa: Getting an early read on Bosa has been difficult after a Grade 1 hamstring strain slowed him in the team's second OTA. Before that injury, Bosa looked as advertised: He had NFL-ready pass-rush moves, fit in well in the locker room and is expected to contribute right away, according to teammates. "He works very hard," defensive end Dee Ford said. "He's a very good guy. You hate to see that [injury] for a rookie because he's really progressing, and he's going to be important for this defense, and that D-line room is really starting to mesh. He'll get healthy and he'll get back. He'll be fine. It's important as a rookie to stay the course. Stay the course, don't get down. You've got a lot of stuff to go through as a rookie. I told him once ball gets here, it's all about ball. All the extra stuff is gone." -- Nick Wagoner
DT Quinnen Williams: Williams hasn't practiced because of a calf-muscle injury that occurred on the first day of OTAs ("I think he was on the banquet circuit," coach Adam Gase cracked), but he has impressed teammates with his willingness to learn on the field and in the classroom. They hope to get him in team drills before the offseason ends. They envision Williams as a three-down player who can play multiple positions and should improve the interior pass rush. -- Rich Cimini
DE Clelin Ferrell: Though Ferrell checks off all the boxes when it comes to being a foundation player off the field -- leadership, discipline, strong character -- it's his on-field persona that will be tested. He does have a solid pedigree as an edge rusher, but some in the organization wonder if he is "mean enough" on the field. Yeah, it's early, and he will have a chance to prove as much once the pads come on in training camp and games begin. He has been working behind Benson Mayowa and Arden Key at defensive end early in OTAs and looks physically impressive. And since the Raiders have a need there -- they had a league-low 13 sacks last season -- Ferrell will have his shot. "We think Ferrell has the credentials to be an every-down defensive end," coach Jon Gruden said, "and also be a guy that we can build our defensive line around." -- Paul Gutierrez
ILB Devin White: White has been everything the Bucs hoped -- an impact playmaker and a vocal leader for the defense. He has grasped Todd Bowles' system very quickly and has been leading the defensive huddle since Day 1. "For a rookie to come in and be talking like that, it's really amazing to see," fellow inside linebacker Lavonte David said. "The sky is the limit for him most definitely." On the second play of OTAs, White picked off quarterback Jameis Winston, his third interception in three practices. "Devin White, he's been outstanding," Winston said. It's not far-fetched to think he could wind up becoming defensive rookie of the year. -- Jenna Laine
QB Daniel Jones: He has looked like he belongs working with the second- and third-team offenses early in his Giants career. That is an accomplishment given the difficulty of playing quarterback as a rookie in the NFL. One area where Jones has really showed well is with his arm. He has thrown with surprising velocity given some pre-draft criticism which viewed that as a weakness. No wonder coach Pat Shurmur said recently that Jones' arm was never a concern for the team. -- Jordan Raanan
OLB Josh Allen: Allen suffered a bruised knee in the first OTA and hasn't participated since. It's hard not to be impressed with his size and athleticism, and the Jaguars are excited about figuring a way to work him into the lineup. He can play defensive end on the weak side and strong side, which means he might be dropping into coverage at times. He did that at Kentucky regularly and it gives the Jaguars some flexibility. -- Michael DiRocco
TE T.J. Hockenson: It's tough to get a true gauge on Hockenson -- or any rookie -- until training camp, but even more so at tight end because of the breadth of what they are asked to do. That said, he has looked good so far in the limited amount of time the media has been able to watch him. His coaches have been impressed with how he has picked up the offense, and they know he has the capability to do a lot. It's just going to take some time, particularly in a new offense for every player, for that to truly be realized. -- Michael Rothstein
DT Ed Oliver: Oliver is expected to be the Bills' starting 3-technique defensive tackle by the start of the season, but they are making him earn his reps with the first-team defense. Most of those snaps in the OTAs open to reporters have gone to Jordan Phillips, whom Buffalo re-signed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal in March before drafting Oliver. When Oliver eventually takes over, the Bills believe his smaller frame (6-foot-2, 287 pounds) will not hold him back in the NFL. "We need a guy with great quickness, great get-off, that has strength and athleticism, and Ed has those qualities," defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. -- Mike Rodak
ILB Devin Bush: The Steelers thrust Bush into the starting rotation right away, and his coverage skills have been on display. He has shown the ability to get into passing lanes with his quickness. The team wants to expedite his learning curve. Defensive end Cam Heyward said Bush needs more bass in his voice if he's going to call plays. And he'll need to improve his tackling angles in the running game at this level. But so far, he looks like he belongs among a linebacker group that includes veterans Vince Williams and Mark Barron. -- Jeremy Fowler
OT Jonah Williams: It's too early to tell how Williams will fare since the team won't put pads on for a while, but the Bengals aren't treating him with kid gloves. He's already playing with the first string at left tackle, causing the Bengals to move Cordy Glenn, the left tackle they traded for just a year ago, to guard. If taking Williams in the first round didn't show how how highly the Bengals think of him, then this move certainly does. -- Katherine Terrell
DE Rashan Gary: Explosiveness and versatility. Gary has already displayed both. While playing on the edge, Gary looks quick off the ball. Yet the Packers also think he can move inside. In fact, in one defensive package, Gary lined up inside along with Za'Darius Smith, while Preston Smith and Kyler Fackrell played on the edge. "That's why he's here -- because he's a versatile player," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. "He can be on the edge, we can kick him inside. He's an incredible athlete, and we've just got to keep getting him familiarized with exactly what we're asking him to do, and again, digging at those details so he can go out and execute at a high level." -- Rob Demovsky
DT Christian Wilkins: The pads haven't been put on yet, so we haven't got a great glimpse of what Wilkins can do for the Dolphins on the field, but he's already made his presence known in the locker room and off the field. "Christian brings a lot of energy into the building. He's a fun-loving guy," coach Brian Flores said. "For me, someone who is straight-edged, he brings good energy in a good way. That's something that I like; but at the same time, he works extremely hard." Flores is making the rookies earn their roles, so Wilkins hasn't had much time with the first-team defense yet, but the expectation is that he will lock down a starting spot this summer. -- Cameron Wolfe
G Chris Lindstrom: It's too early to truly make a judgment on offensive linemen Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary, the Falcons' first-round draft picks. They are slowly getting worked in at right guard and right tackle, respectively. The real test will come when they put on the pads. Asked about his first impressions of his two new linemen, quarterback Matt Ryan said, "It's tough to tell when they're not in pads, but you can see by the way that they set, the way that they move off the ball, they're both athletic guys for as big as they are. They're into it. I really love how much that they like football." -- Vaughn McClure
QB Dwayne Haskins: He throws a nice ball and at times makes throws others just can't. Haskins clearly looks like someone who will win the job at some point, but there are many things he still must learn -- getting all the terminology of a play correct, for example. He's more mobile than people realize. But there also are times when his passes are a little off -- sometimes to the wrong shoulder or just a misfire. It has led to some issues in practices and shows the development that must be made. -- John Keim
OLB Brian Burns: His quickness and explosiveness off the line was evident from the get-go. Having veteran free-agent signee Bruce Irvin to groom Burns has been a huge benefit in that Irvin has played outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and end in a 4-3 as the Panthers transition to more 3-4 fronts. The Panthers like to go with a four-man rotation with their edge rushers, so Irvin and Mario Addison likely will be first up. But Burns definitely shows the potential to disrupt the quarterback. -- David Newton
DT Dexter Lawrence: You can see why the Giants liked Lawrence out of Clemson. He's a massive human who moves exceptionally well for his size. He's already working as the nose tackle and anchor in the middle of the Giants' first-team defense. -- Jordan Raanan
C Garrett Bradbury: One position battle appears to already be solved in Minnesota with Bradbury in line to become the Day 1 starter at center. He's the right fit for the position with his athleticism, power and feel for an offense that runs an outside zone scheme. Plus, plugging Bradbury in at center allows the Vikings to move Pat Elflein to left guard, which seems like it will be a better fit. Bradbury has a lot on his plate, and it's not always easy for a rookie center to shoulder the responsibility of calling an entire game. But he can lean on Elflein, and quarterback Kirk Cousins is eager to perfect their communication from the jump given how many centers he worked with last year. "I just tried to set that vision for him to say, 'You be the guy here for the next 10 years, and let's not have to worry about having anybody else snap for the quarterback,'" Cousins said. "He's got a long ways to go to do that, but he's got all the right stuff and we'll just keep stacking days on top of one another to get him where he needs to be." -- Courtney Cronin
DT Jeffery Simmons: Simmons hasn't been available to the media or taken the field while he works to recover from a torn ACL in February. That's typically what happens with an injured draft pick, so there's nothing to be concerned about. There isn't a timetable for his return, so it's a wait-and-see approach for the Titans' 2019 first-round pick. -- Turron Davenport
TE Noah Fant: Certainly it's early in the process with plenty of developmental road to travel before the regular season, but it's easy to see Fant is going to have a chance to contribute immediately in the passing game. He's getting quality snaps with the first-teamers at times, and Broncos coach Vic Fangio has consistently served up some slices of humble pie, talking about how good the team's other players look at the position during the practices -- especially Troy Fumagalli, a 2018 draft pick. But Fant's speed is rare, and he has already shown sound route-running ability, especially in the red zone. Things change when the pads go on, sure, and he's got some work to do as a blocker -- he sets with too narrow a base at times -- but blocking will be a nice bonus for a player who should provide some pop in the middle of the field. -- Jeff Legwold
S Darnell Savage Jr.: Savage was the only rookie to work with the starters from the get-go in OTAs. Paired with free-agent addition Adrian Amos, Savage is part of the revamped safety position. Although it appears Amos is better suited to play near the line of scrimmage and Savage in the back end, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has called them interchangeable. "We've all seen Darnell's college tape with the speed and the range, he can certainly play deep," Pettine said. "But this is a guy, he was a good blitzer. It was not an issue for him playing down inside as well." -- Rob Demovsky
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Riddick: Patriots most improved team after draft
Louis Riddick, Dan Graziano and Dan Orlovsky share their choices for which teams improved the most through the NFL draft.
OT Andre Dillard: With Jason Peters absent from OTAs, Dillard has been manning the starting left tackle spot. Smooth and athletic, he looks like he belongs to this point. Several offensive linemen are cross-training at this stage, but the Eagles are working Dillard exclusively at left tackle. "Andre is different," coach Doug Pederson said. "We're just trying to get his feet wet with the playbook and get him moving around." -- Tim McManus
OT Tytus Howard: Howard certainly has the opportunity to earn a starting spot at either tackle or guard position before the start of the season. He'll spend the offseason and training camp at all four positions, as he has so far during OTAs. Howard said he can't wait to protect Deshaun Watson, who said he loves hearing that from the rookie offensive lineman. "I love hearing the idea and the confidence in what he's saying," Watson said. "Ever since he got here, he's been quiet and just going to work. We all love seeing that." -- Sarah Barshop
RB Josh Jacobs: Jacobs, who did not have a particularly heavy workload at Alabama, has started to take to the mentorship of veteran running back Doug Martin. Even if it has been at a slower pace than hoped for at this point. A minor injury has Jacobs on a slow, but steady, pace early in OTAs. "Well, it's good to have him out there, for one," Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "We had a glimpse of him and then he kind of tweaked his hamstring early. But it's good to see him out there and have him practice with the rest of that rookie class. Good to have him out there on the field." -- Paul Gutierrez
WR Marquise Brown: Brown won't be able to practice until the start of training camp in late July after having foot surgery in January, which has been the plan since the Ravens made him the first wide receiver drafted this year. He has been spending his time in the training room where he has been rehabbing, and in the meeting room where he's learning the offensive system. "We haven't seen much, but he has a great attitude," coach John Harbaugh said. "He's always in good spirits, just a good dude." Brown is expected to add that explosive element that has been lacking in the Ravens' offense. -- Jamison Hensley
DE Montez Sweat: Man, does Sweat look the part: long arms, well-cut body. It'll be hard to gauge where he's truly at until they begin padded practices in training camp, but he has stood out against backup offensive linemen (the Redskins' starting tackles, Morgan Moses and Trent Williams aren't participating). But you do see Sweat's ability to rush inside and create issues. And you can see his speed, which should allow him to chase plays down on the backside. He'll make an impact. -- John Keim
S Johnathan Abram: Abram certainly looks the part on the field, that of a heat-seeking missile. But again, pads are not on yet. OTAs are all about learning schemes and learning at the knee of veterans. And for Abram, he could do worse than having a veteran safety mentor like Lamarcus Joyner, who has already taken to the rookie. "He's an alpha," Joyner said of Abram. "He just has to slow it down. He's ready to go. He's been an alpha all of his life, and I told him that you just have to think, keep your feet on the ground and let things come to him." -- Paul Gutierrez
DT Jerry Tillery: Because of surgery he had in March to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, Tillery has been limited to watching from the sidelines during offseason work. However, Tillery has been focused on getting mental reps and learning the playbook through film study with veterans like nose tackle Brandon Mebane. The hope is Tillery will be healthy for the start of training camp. "It's tough," Chargers defensive line coach Giff Smith said. "Let's face it, he's played football his whole life and now to be a first-round pick and you can't do anything, it's difficult. But he's stayed mentally engaged so far, and I expect that to continue." -- Eric D. Williams
DE L.J. Collier: Linemen are the hardest players to evaluate in noncontact practices, but there's been no reason to waver on the belief that Collier can be a contributor right away -- at least in a rotational role as an early-down edge-setter and/or an inside rusher on passing downs. He's taken some reps with the starters and has caught the eye of Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown. "I think as a rookie coming in, he definitely has some savviness, some craft in his moves that you normally wouldn't see from a younger guy," Brown said. "He's strong, he's got long arms, strong player. I think right now with no pads on, it's hard to assess someone, but I think he's definitely going to make some plays this year just based on what I've seen so far." -- Brady Henderson
CB Deandre Baker: The Georgia cornerback has jumped into the mix and battled. He might not be the biggest or fastest, but he can cover. That has been apparent during practices, where Baker has shown he's a physical cover cornerback who can help the Giants immediately. He's battling last year's third-round supplemental pick Sam Beal for a starting spot on the outside opposite Janoris Jenkins. -- Jordan Raanan
OT Kaleb McGary: As quarterback Matt Ryan said, McNary looks like he moves well for being a big guy. He's quite a personality when it comes to addressing the media. But let's see how McNary does when he goes up against a speed rush. That's a question mark that needs to be addressed. There's no doubt he's a tough guy. -- Vaughn McClure
WR N'Keal Harry: Reporters have seen one practice to this point, and Harry was active as a pass-catcher. On one play, he was split to the right opposite of second-round cornerback Joejuan Williams, and made a decisive step to the inside to catch a 5-yard slant for a touchdown. At 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, he is "big and strong," as noted by quarterback Brian Hoyer. Bill Belichick also referred to Harry as smart in terms of learning the Patriots' offense. -- Mike Reiss
Top seed Novak Djokovic created a piece of French Open history by becoming the first man to reach a 10th consecutive quarter-final after a routine win over Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.
The 32-year-old Serb, aiming to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time, won 6-3 6-2 6-2 in one hour 33 minutes.
Djokovic has not dropped a set at this year's Roland Garros.
German fifth seed Alexander Zverev or Italian ninth seed Fabio Fognini await in the last eight.
They meet in the last 16 later on Monday.
After winning the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open titles, Djokovic is aiming to hold all four majors at the same time by claiming the French Open for a second time.
The 15-time major winner previously achieved the feat when he claimed his maiden Roland Garros title in 2016, which saw him become only the eighth man to complete a career Grand Slam.
But 12 months ago, after form and fitness problems, the possibility of Djokovic putting himself in this position again seemed unlikely.
Despite his recent dominance, the world number one has insisted 11-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal must again be considered the favourite on the red clay.
However, it is hard to separate the two top seeds judging by Djokovic's ruthless performances - he has strolled to the last eight, albeit against opponents with an average ranking of 85.
Against Struff, Djokovic took his second break point of the match at 4-3, ending the world number 45's resistance by putting away an overhead after he left the German scrambling in a baseline rally.
From there it was one-way traffic as Djokovic outclassed his opponent, winning 11 of the next 13 games to move two sets ahead and with a double break in the third.
Djokovic's power and placement was simply too much for Struff, who could not convert a break point in what proved to be final game as the Serb upped the tempo again to seal victory.
Taking centre stage: the 2018 Open International de Nantes winners Declan James and Nele Gilis at Theatre Graslin
Nantes changes name to French Open and upgrades to PSA Silver status By SEAN REUTHE
The Professional Squash Association (PSA) have announced today that the Open de France – Nantes 2019 presented by Tailor Capital will use a best-of-three games scoring format up to and including the quarter-finals when the tournament takes place at the Chateau des ducs de Bretagne between September 9-14.
Formerly known as the Open International de Squash de Nantes, this year’s Open de France has been upgraded to a PSA World Tour Silver tournament and will boast its highest ever prize purse of $147,000, which will be split equally between the men’s and women’s draws.
The tournament will be just the third ranking PSA event to use the best-of-three games format after March’s Canary Wharf Classic and the PSA World Tour Finals, which takes place in June.
The Open de France aims to combine culture and squash and last year took place at the Théâtre Graslin, where more than 4,000 spectators witnessed world-class squash at the stunning 18th century opera house throughout the week as England’s Declan James and Belgium’s Nele Gilis claimed silverware.
“We are excited to bring world-class squash back to Nantes for a fifth successive year, and believe that the increase in prize money, change in scoring format, and incredible new venue will lead to this being the best edition of the tournament to date,” said Tournament Promoter Francois Le Jort.
New venue: the Chateau des ducs de Bretagne will host the 2019 French Open in Nantes
“The timing constraints given the decision to play matches after dark has led us, for this year, to take the decision to adopt the best-of-three games format until the quarter-finals to offer as many matches as possible on the glass court. These will be held under a transparent dome in order to fully enjoy this magical place, the illuminated Chateau des ducs de Bretagne.
“We are excited to bring world-class squash back to Nantes for a fifth successive year, and believe that the increase in prize money and incredible new venue will lead to this being the best edition of the tournament to date.”
PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough said: “The Open de France has forged a reputation as one of the most atmospheric tournaments on the PSA Tour, and we are delighted to see them make the step up to a Silver event for the 2019-20 season.
“I would like to thank the organising team for their hard work in making this a possibility, and I’m sure that the tournament will continue to go from strength to strength this year.”
The opening round of the Open de France will be held at the La Maison du Squash, while round two will be split between there and the Chateau des ducs de Bretagne. All matches from the quarter-finals onwards will be held at the Chateau.
Action from the glass court will be shown on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and the PSA World Tour’s Facebook page (excluding Europe and Japan).
Report by SEAN REUTHE (PSA PR and Media Manager). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.
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