Sooners in the Pros: Week 1

Sooners in the Pros | Update: September 11, 2006
The game on the opening week of NFL action featuring the most Sooners was the least dramatic. The Baltimore Ravens used a stifling defense to shut out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 27-0, on the road at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

Mark Clayton caught two passes for 18 yards and Corey Ivy registered two tackles for the victorious Ravens. The game featured little offense from either team, but Baltimore's defense proved to be more than enough as they intercepted Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms three times, including Chris McAlister's 60-yard touchdown return in the second quarter that set the tone early.

Derrick Strait, traded to Cleveland from the New York Jets only to end up back in New York after the trade was voided, registered six unassisted tackles for the Jets in their 23-16 win over Tennessee on Sunday.

Strait's total was the third-highest on the team, behind Jonathan Vilma and Eric Barton. On the other side of the ball, Andre Woolfolk was relatively quiet in comparison to his old Sooner counterpart, finishing with one assisted tackle.

On the road in Jacksonville, former Sooner and three-time Pro Bowler Roy Williams picked off Jags quarterback Byron Leftwich for his first interception of the season, one that seemed to have his Dallas Cowboys in control early, leading 10-3.

However, his performance came in a losing effort as Jacksonville rallied for a 24-17 victory. Akin Ayodele, brother of former Sooner and Baltimore defensive tackle Remi Ayodele, was the Cowboys' second-leading tackler on Sunday with seven -- all unassisted.

Brandon Moore made his presence felt for San Francisco, coming up with two tackles, a sack and a forced fumble for the 49ers. His team, however, came up just short against the Arizona Cardinals, falling 24-17 in the inaugural regular season game at the new Cardinals Stadium.

Stephen Alexander had been in a training camp battle for the Denver Broncos' starting tight end position, and he helped his cause on Sunday against St. Louis with two catches for 24 yards to lead all Broncos tight ends in receiving. The Rams came out on top in this contest, defeating the Broncos 18-10.

Coming off a Pro Bowl season for Chicago, Tommie Harris registered three tackles for the Bears on Sunday in a 26-0 shutout of Green Bay.

Brodney Pool had two unassisted tackles for the Cleveland Browns, who fell 19-14 at home to offensive tackle Jammal Brown and the New Orleans Saints.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

DOUBLE TAKES
The NFL makes teammates out of old college rivals and pits former Sooners against each other. Week one was no exception.

It may have been strange watching Davin Joseph block for former Texas quarterback Chris Simms, now his teammate in Tampa Bay. Joseph also lined up against a slew of former Sooner and current Baltimore defenders that included Dan Cody, Kelly Gregg, Remi Ayodele and Corey Ivy.

Jammal Brown watched from the sideline as Reggie Bush ran against the Sooners in the 2005 Orange Bowl, but on Sunday was up front blocking for his new Saints teammate against the Browns. On the other side of the ball, Brown was protecting his offense from former Oklahoma teammates Brodney Pool and Antonio Perkins, who both play in the Cleveland defensive backfield.

Just like old times: Derrick Strait lined up against a familiar face on Sunday: former Texas Longhorns' quarterback Vince Young. Strait, who won his only head-to-head battle with Young in college, came out on top once again as the Jets defeated the Titans, 23-16.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK 2
Sooner battles to watch in Week 2 of NFL action include:

The "Chicago Sooners" (Mark Bradley, J.D. Runnels, Dusty Dvoracek and Tommie Harris) take on Teddy Lehman and the Detroit Lions.

Stephen Alexander and the Denver Broncos square off against Jimmy Wilkerson, William Bartee and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Several former Sooners made their mark early in an eventful first week of NFL action. Stay tuned for an exciting season featuring Sooners in the pros.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors