Sri Lankan conditions is batting consultant Stuarrt Law, wh

CLEMSON, S.C. -- He doesnt flash that easygoing smile as frequently. His play gets scrutinized and picked apart more, because many of the folks who gushed about Deshaun Watsons game a season ago now focus on the overthrows and critical interceptions.Still, Clemsons junior quarterback is back in the same spot -- a Heisman Trophy finalist.The journey this time has not been as smooth. He apologized in September after two closer-than-expected wins for not bringing the same joy into his game as he had the first two years. Hes led prime-time, fourth-quarter comebacks against No. 16 Louisville and No. 12 Florida State and thrown three interceptions that helped Pitt pull off a stunning upset, a 43-42 victory that was Clemsons first home loss since Watson was in high school.Watson believes he is in part tagged with matching the success he had in 2015 when he became the first player in the Football Bowl Subdivision to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000. He capped it with a virtuoso performance against Alabama in the national title game, accounting for four touchdowns and 478 yards in a 45-40 loss.Its easy for people to say that Im not having the type of season I had last year, because to be honest, a lot of people didnt really know me until the end of the season, Watson said. So theyre just living off the national championship game, and all the success I had in that.Once last season ended, Watson was elevated to the face of college football, a favorite for the Heisman who would command a deep, talented Tigers attack that had potential to be the best in the game. When that did not happen immediately, Watson became ripe for criticism, no matter how much success he and his teammates had.Personally, I dont really care about anybody elses opinions and expectations. I understand what Im doing, and my teammates do, too, he said.Watson has dealt with more difficult things in life. His mother, Deann , was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue while he was at Gainesville (Georgia) High. Deann Watson spent six months in the hospital after her glossectomy, an operation to remove her tongue that takes breast tissue to rebuild the tongue.Watsons mother was declared cancer-free in 2012, although she needs to use a feeding tube for the rest of her life.Its something I kind of grew up on, especially coming from the environment I grew up in and the situation with my mom, Watson said. Its a blessing to be able to play the game of football, because one step later it can easily be taken away from me.Watsons numbers this season belie the eye test. Hes thrown for 3,626 yards and 34 TDs, up from 3,223 and 27 touchdowns during the regular season in 2015. His rushing numbers have dropped, but so have Watsons carries. He was most effective running in the postseason, getting 68 carries and 349 yards in the ACC title game and the teams two College Football Playoff games last season.Hes the best player in college football, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. I mean, just that simple. He has done a fantastic job leading this football team.---BEST GAME: Watsons best may have come in an early-season, 42-36 showdown win over Louisville and Heisman Trophy front-runner Lamar Jackson. Watson helped the Tigers to a 28-10 halftime lead, then dug down in the fourth quarter after Jackson had rallied the Cardinals to a 36-28 edge. Watson threw a 20-yard TD pass to Mike Williams to begin the rally with 7:05 to go and directed an 85-yard drive he finished with a 31-yard scoring pass to Jordan Leggett. Watson ended the night with 306 yards and five touchdown passes.WORST GAME: It seems crazy to label an ACC-record-setting performance as Watsons worst game, but his 580 yards passing against Pitt were offset by three interceptions -- and the last two led to Panthers touchdowns in their 43-42 victory at Death Valley last month. The final pick at the Pitt goal line with Clemson driving for a potential clinching score sprung Pitt linebacker Saleem Brightwell for a 70-yard return that led to a crucial TD. Watson has 15 interceptions in 13 games this season after throwing 15 in 23 games his first two seasons.PRO PROSPECTS: Watson will be one of the first quarterbacks taken in next springs NFL draft, but he might have to rebuild his stock some to show he is a top-of-the-first-round player. Clemsons last ACC player of the year quarterback, Tajh Boyd, saw his stock go from early-round prospect to a sixth-round pick in the 2014 draft.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Carl Banks Womens Jersey . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. Eli Manning Womens Jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Julian-Love-Jersey/ . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Dexter Lawrence Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Oshane Ximines Womens Jersey . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Muttiah Muralitharan has become the second former Sri Lanka cricketer to work with Australias players ahead of the upcoming Test series on the island. Captain Steven Smith confirmed Murali had begun to work with Australias spinners in their training sessions in Colombo, where the team arrived last weekend. Murali is expected to continue in this consulting role until the start of the first Test, in Pallekele. Some Australia players had also worked with former Sri Lanka batsman Thilan Samaraweera, who is presently coaching at the National Cricket Academy in Brisbane.Muralis got a lot of experience in Sri Lanka, Smith said. He took a truckload of wickets. Its great to have someone like that helping our spinners in this series - to give us that insight. Hes been really good around the group so far, and hes enjoying his time with us. Australia had previously hired Murali in a short-term consulting role ahead of their Test series against Pakistan, in the UAE, in 2014. Both offspinner Nathan Lyon and left-arm spinner Steve OKeefe, who are on the Sri Lanka tour, had worked with Murali on that occasion. He has had two training sessions with the Australia team in this stint so far.Murali has been fantastic around the guys, Australia coach Darren Lehmann said. Murali loves the game of cricket, so Im sure hed work well with other teams as well - hes a fantastic coach.Also equipping Australia with knowledge of Sri Lankan conditions is batting consultant Stuarrt Law, who worked as Sri Lankas assistant coach from 2009 to 2011 and also briefly as the interim head coach.dddddddddddd Law will be with the Australia side through the tour. The visitors first and only practice match against a Sri Lanka Board XI will begin on July 18 - seven days after the team arrived on the island.We made a choice to come a little bit earlier, Lehmann said. Steven likes the extra time. Thats the best thing for all the guys for this tour - its a tough tour, as we know. Stuart Law has spent some time here and has some expertise. To have him and Murali to talk about the way the wickets might play in Kandy, Colombo and Galle, and how Sri Lanka play and how we should play, has been great.There had been consternation within SLC earlier in the year, when Mahela Jayawardene worked with England ahead of the World T20, but Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews was less perturbed by Muralis appointment.Well hes a professional and hes into coaching now, Mathews said. I think helping Australia out with insight - hes got so much experience - it will be a great help for them to get some advice.The first of three Tests begins in Pallekele on July 26. The series is unusually beginning in Kandy in order to get the Pallekele Test out of the way before the Esala Perahera - a Buddhist festival - season begins in the city. ' ' '