’01 Sooner Defense Pro Bowling

December 23rd, 2005

Everyone who knows Oklahoma football knows that the 2000 National Championship defense came on in the last half of the season to take that team to glory. Those people also know that if there was any consistency whatsoever in 2001 that the Sooners would have made it back-to-back because of a nasty defense. A defense that had two former players named to the NFL Pro Bowl this week and many others that are competing in the league.

Tommie Harris is one of five Chicago Bears to be on the Pro Bowl defense. The Bears have dominated practically everyone en route to a 10-4 record and closing on the NFC North Division Championship. Harris has 28 tackles and three sacks with two forced fumbles and is a constant terror on the inside helping fellow Bears Pro Bowler Brian Urlacher get loose to make plays.

Roy Williams has become one of the fiercest and respected hitters in the NFL in his four years. This is his third straight Pro Bowl after narrowly missing Honolulu as a rookie in 2002. Williams has 83 tackles (six for a loss), two sacks, two interceptions, seven pass deflections, and two forced fumbles.

Eight other Sooners from that 2001 defense see regular action in the NFL these days and one, Dusty Dvoracek, will likely play next season. Rocky Calmus did not see any time this year fighting through injuries with the Indianapolis Colts. Dan Cody also missed the entire season due to injury, but was slated to see plenty of time and perhaps start for the Baltimore Ravens this season.

Derrick Strait has played in all 14 games with the New York Jets, racking up 44 tackles in the process in 2005. Brandon Moore has been in San Francisco for four years and may be Reggie Bush’s new teammate after this horrid season for the 49ers. Moore has piled up 63 tackles, five sacks, and one interception. Jimmy Wilkerson has played almost every game in his three years in Kansas City, which is an accomplishment no matter how bad their defense is.

Andre Woolfolk, whose team has barely missed out on the Reggie Bush sweepstakes, has started 11 games this season with 43 tackles, one interception, and eight pass breakups. Antonio Perkins has seen only time as a kick returner this season in Cleveland with three returns at an average of 27 yards per return. Finally, Teddy Lehman recorded 102 tackles in 2004, but was only through five games this season before ending with injury.

A total of eleven, a complete squad for those of you just joining this game, have played or will play in the NFL and two have already garnered Pro Bowl accolades. A stout defense in 2001 that is looking tougher and tougher as the years go by. Especially considering guys like Jonathon Jackson and Brandon Everage didn’t make it to the big league.

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