2004 NFL Draft
Senior Bowl Review
By: Al Fronczak
                        Three Prospects that I just had to comment on:

Philip Rivers  QB  N.C. State - Rivers release is a concern to some Scouts ...but He's been productive in his time at N.C. St and got the job done once again on Saturday...Rivers was the best QB during the Senior Bowl practices and the best QB on the field in the game...his 3/4 release is identical to former Browns QB Bernie Kosar...Rivers needs to work on his overall accuracy and will also need to put more air under the ball on his long passes but if Saturday was any indication of where he stands in his development ...then Rivers is on his way to becoming a solid starting QB at the next level...now...Rivers may not be for everyone....several NFL Scouts from various teams feel that Rivers needs to alter his throwing motion because he will have too many balls batted down by Linemen in the NFL...and Rivers is willing to work on altering his release... but I believe that may only set him back instead of helping him progress...one thing that Rivers has on his side in all this is his Height....at nearly 6-5 Rivers 3/4 release point is higher than if he were just 6-1...Some NFL teams that aren't confortable with his release will ultimately downgrade Rivers on their Draft-Board but there are several teams that feel he will be able to get the job done at the next level....All in all...Rivers needs to put the icying on the cake with a solid workout at the Combine to solidify his Draft status which could possibly hear his name called as early as the later stages of Round One of the Draft.


J.P. Losman QB  Tulane - I absolutely just love this kids potential...Losman has a very strong arm and really solid mechanics (something that Scouts really look for in a QB prospect)...He also has good mobility which allows him to move the pocket and throw on the run...now... with that said...everyone that watched the Senior Bowl will ask....why didn't Losman steal the show on Saturday...the answer ...He's a work in progress....Losman mainly operated out of the shotgun at Tulane... so this week was a BIG adjustment for him having to take the snap under center....I felt he moved his team when he was in there... but a couple of dropped passes by his receivers ended drives for his team....Losman has a cocky attitude... but some Scouts feel that the sky is the limit for this kid...keep an eye on Losman at the Combine....because with his overall talent....he may put on such a show that many NFL teams will keep him rated #3 on their Draft Board with a possible late 1st round selection.


Greg Jones  HB  Florida State - Jones is just one year removed from a serious knee injury but ran the ball with authority and showed that he can slide and make a defender miss or just bowl him over like a bowling ball...However...there are several things that concern Scouts about Jones at this point...#1 -  is he needs to work on his hands so that he is able to catch the ball more consistently...#2 - is he needs to be a more willing blocker....he can block and when he does he does a good job...the big word is "when"....Jones was asked to play the Fullback position at times during the week of practices and Jones did... but was very reluctant to do so....then in the game itself Jones was sent in on a play late in the game but seemed to be reluctant to go in because he thought he was going to be used as a blocker instead of the primary back....Jones was wrong because he got the ball and scored a TD on the play....after the play was over Coach Shottenheimer went over to Jones... and in so many words reminded him that in the NFL when your asked to do something....you just do it...Shotzy was nice about the whole ordeal....but....a RED FLAG on  Greg Jones went up after that....so Jones may need to alter his attitude before the Indianapolis Combine... or risk sliding down several teams Draft Boards which will ultimately cost him Money.



Players whose Draft Stock has Risen:

Philip Rivers   QB  North Carolina State

Julius Jones  HB  Notre Dame

Mewelde Moore    HB  Tulane

Michael Jenkins    WR Ohio State

Devery Henderson      WR  LSU

Ernest WilfordWR  Virginia Tech

Jacob BellOG   Miami-Ohio

Stephen PetermanOG   LSU

Dwan EdwardsDT  Oregon State

Darnell DockettDT  Florida State

Ricardo Colclough  CB Tusculum College

Keiwan Ratliff   CB Florida

Madieu Williams      S     Maryland



Players whose Draft Stock has Fallen:

Josh HarrisQB Bowling Green

Michael Turner HB No. Illinois

Adrian Clark      OG Ohio State

Travelle Wharton     OT So. Carolina

DeMarco McNeil      DT  Auburn



Keep an Eye on these BOOM or BUST Type Prospects:

Travis LaBoy    DE  Hawaii

Bobby McCray DE  Florida

Tommy Kelly    DT  Mississippi St.
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