Well here we are again. This is my latest installment of my series called Position Outlook, where I will be profiling each position and the players that Dallas has for that position. I will be giving MY opinion on the relative strength of the position, and how likely I think Dallas will be drafting that position in the 2012 NFL Draft. I will include All current players+ practice squad in this evaluation.

Now I will be using Stats from NFL.com(where applicable) and NFLDraftScout.com(where applicable) as the basis for my Evaluation. I will also be giving the Contract Info via Rotoworld.com. Once I have shown the players, I will rank them using the 5 star method as Follows:

5 Stars- Minimum Amount of Quality Starters at Position and At least one quality Backup for Position= BPA only if player is ranked significantly higher than any other player, and would not be a factor in FA

4 Stars- Minimum amount of Quality Starters at position, Unproven Depth = Address as BPA and FA for Depth

3 Stars- Minimum of one Quality player at starter, young, but unproven Depth=slight need, BPA in rounds 4-7 preferably, look to fill need in FA

2 Stars-Serviceable Starter(s), No Depth = solid need, BPA if within rounds 1-3 if not taken care of in Free Agency

1 Star- No Quality players at starter nor in depth= major need, Draft no later than 2nd round, would take precedence over BPA if Gap is close enough, and is a must target in Free Agency

The series so far:

QB position 3 stars

Offensive Tackle position 4 stars

Offensive Guard position 3 stars

Offensive Center position 5 stars

Cornerback position 2 stars*

Safety position 3 stars

Defensive Line 3 stars

Inside Linebacker 3 stars

Running/Full Backs 5 stars

It seems that there is some confusion to the rankings. The grade is merely what I think the relative strength of the position itself is. I am not saying that any one group is "better than another" To Illustrate: I gave the Tackle position 4 stars, yet I gave the center position 5 stars. This is not to say that Costa and Kowalski are more talented than Doug Free, Tyron Smith and Jeremy Parnell. What the Rankings signify is the combination of TOTAL talent, age, and Contract status of ALL rostered players+Practice squad player FOR EACH Position. I am grading as a Group not individuality. While the Individual grades do impact the overall ranking, a "higher" ranking does not mean "better" or more talented. I hope that this clears up any confusion.

So as the title states, I will be profiling the Outside Linebacker position with this post. As as it is the offseason, I will not be profiling any players that are due to be free agents at this time, (looking at you Anthony Spencer), only those players currently under contract. So Lets Look at the Position:

DeMarcus Ware
Height: 6-4 Weight: 260
Age: 29
College: Troy
Experience: 7th season

CAREER STATSMORE
Season	Team			Tackles					Interceptions						Fumbles
		G	GS	Comb	Total	Ast	Sck	SFTY	PDef	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TDs	FF
2011	Dallas Cowboys	16	16	58	47	11	19.5	--	2	--	--	0.0	--	--	2
2010	Dallas Cowboys	16	16	66	56	10	15.5	0	1	--	--	0.0	--	--	2
2009	Dallas Cowboys	16	15	57	45	12	11.0	--	6	--	--	0.0	--	--	5
2008	Dallas Cowboys	16	16	84	69	15	20.0	--	2	--	--	0.0	--	--	6
2007	Dallas Cowboys	16	16	84	60	24	14.0	--	4	--	--	0.0	--	--	4
2006	Dallas Cowboys	16	16	71	57	14	11.5	0	5	1	41	41.0	41T	1	5
2005	Dallas Cowboys	16	16	58	47	11	8.0	--	1	--	--	0.0	--	--	3
TOTAL				478	381	97	99.5	0	21	1	41	--	41	1	27

Combine Results		Pro Day Results
Combine Invite: yes Height: 6040 Weight: 251 40 Yrd Dash: 4.56 20 Yrd Dash: 2.71 10 Yrd Dash: 1.62	225 Lb. Bench Reps: 27 Vertical Jump: 38 1/2 Broad Jump: 10'02" 20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.07 3-Cone Drill: 6.85	Dates: 03/10/2005 Height: 6040 Weight: 251 40 Yrd Dash: 4.53 20 Yrd Dash: 10 Yrd Dash:	225 Lb. Bench Reps: Vertical Jump: Broad Jump: 20 Yrd Shuttle: 3-Cone Drill:

Contract Details: 10/26/2009: Signed a seven-year, $79 million contract. The deal contains $40 million guaranteed, including a $20 million signing bonus and all of Ware's 2009-2011 base salaries. 2011: $6.7 million, 2012: $4.5 million (+ $500,000 workout bonus), 2013: $5.5 million (+ $500,000 workout bonus), 2014: $12.25 million, 2015: $13.75 million, 2016: Free Agent

Victor Butler
Height: 6-2 Weight: 249
Age: 24
College: Oregon State
Experience: 3rd season

CAREER STATSMORE
Season	Team			Tackles					Interceptions						Fumbles
		G	GS	Comb	Total	Ast	Sck	SFTY	PDef	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TDs	FF
2011	Dallas Cowboys	16	0	23	16	7	3.0	--	1	--	--	0.0	--	--	0
2010	Dallas Cowboys	15	0	24	19	5	2.0	--	0	--	--	0.0	--	--	1
2009	Dallas Cowboys	16	1	17	13	4	3.0	--	0	--	--	0.0	--	--	1
TOTAL				64	48	16	8.0	0	1	0	0	--	0	0	2

Combine Results		Pro Day Results
Combine Invite: Yes Height: 6022 Weight: 248 40 Yrd Dash: 4.76 20 Yrd Dash: 2.79 10 Yrd Dash: 1.62	225 Lb. Bench Reps: 24 Vertical Jump: 33 Broad Jump: 09'05" 20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.40 3-Cone Drill: 7.21	Dates: 03/13/09 Height: 6022 Weight: 248 40 Yrd Dash: 4.72 20 Yrd Dash: 2.72 10 Yrd Dash: 1.60	225 Lb. Bench Reps: Vertical Jump: 33 Broad Jump: 09'11" 20 Yrd Shuttle: 3-Cone Drill:

Contract Details:7/23/2009: Signed a four-year, $2.248 million contract. The deal included a $498,540 signing bonus. 2011: $480,000, 2012: $565,000, 2013: Free Agent

Alex Albright
Height: 6-5 Weight: 256
Age: 23
College: Boston College
Experience: Rookie

CAREER STATSMORE
Season	Team			Tackles					Interceptions						Fumbles
		G	GS	Comb	Total	Ast	Sck	SFTY	PDef	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TDs	FF
2011	Dallas Cowboys	16	0	11	8	3	0.0	--	0	--	--	0.0	--	--	0
TOTAL				11	8	3	0.0	0	0	0	0	--	0	0	0

Combine Results		Pro Day Results
Combine Invite: Height: 6044 Weight: 254 40 Yrd Dash: 20 Yrd Dash: 10 Yrd Dash:	225 Lb. Bench Reps: Vertical Jump: Broad Jump: 20 Yrd Shuttle: 3-Cone Drill:	Dates: 03/23/11 Height: 6044 Weight: 254 40 Yrd Dash: 4.86 20 Yrd Dash: 2.71 10 Yrd Dash: 1.60	225 Lb. Bench Reps: 22 Vertical Jump: 36 Broad Jump: 10'04" 20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.03 3-Cone Drill: 6.98

Contract Details-7/27/2011: Signed a three-year, $1.395 million contract. 2012: $465,000, 2013: $555,000, 2014: Restricted Free Agent

Well as you can see Dallas has only 3 OLB's currently under contract*, and While both Albright and Butler has flashed potential, though in different ways, We really don't know how they would handle a full time job...To that end I have to give the OLB position 3 Stars- Minimum of one Quality player at starter, young, but unproven Depth=slight need, BPA in rounds 4-7 preferably, look to fill need in FA.

*I know that some sites have us listed as signing Baraka Atkins to a Future/Reserve contract, However I can find no mention of him signing with the Cowboys(only the Steelers), plus NFL.com still has him listed as a Steeler. But even then they list him as "cut" in the player search(he isn't a member of thier Roster, but isn't on Dallas' Roster either....So I am leaving him off. I will say that he wouldn't have affected the Ranking though. I provided a link to his NFL.com Profile, and he hasn't played in a game since 2008....not exactly a "proven player".....