Boulware got stuck in a position he had no business playing by incompetent management. The guy was probably the fastest OLB in the NCAA and they tried to make him a safety because of his speed. They said he was too small. Guess what? He was taller than LeRoy Hill and only 10 pounds lighter. You don't think he could have played OLB on passing downs? Talk about wasted talent and totally misused players. He had no business playing safety.
He should have been told after year 1 to bulk up by about 10-15 pounds.... and been used precisely as he was in college. A terror off the edge that picked up lots of sacks and scared the crap out of opposing QB's. Instead they stuck him at safety where he was never comfortable and why should he have been expected to. He had never played with his back to the QB prior to midway through his rookie year (and that was on a VERY limited basis). His most effective time as a Hawk was as basically a nickel LBer. Then they had to go with the "Ruskell plan" and move him to safety. What a waste of an incredible talent. Leroy is still playing. Why couldn't Boulware still be a backup LBer, pass rush specialist, nickel guy (like he was) and a special teams standout to this day? Because the Hawks goofed his career by trying to change who he was. He was NOT a DB. He was a pass rush demon.