RealGM

Lovie Smith has a standard answer when it comes to the Bears checking out players on the open market--they're always considering moves to make the team better.

To that end their next move is getting reacquainted with Pisa Tinoisamoa.

While linebacker does not look like a need area, the veteran began his successful career in St. Louis playing for Smith and linebackers coach Bob Babich. The Bears are interested enough to have him in for a visit to Halas Hall Wednesday, according to an NFL source. That trip that coincides with the first OTA of the offseason.

Tinoisamoa was released by the Rams on May 8 despite leading the team in tackles for four of his six seasons, including last year when he had a team-high 135 playing on the weak side. He wasn't deemed to be a fit for new coach Steve Spagnuolo's scheme and St. Louis tried unsuccessfully to trade him.

Tinoisamoa played weak-side linebacker the last few seasons for the Rams but broke into the league as a second-round pick from Hawaii playing on the strong side for Smith. He became the only rookie in franchise history to lead the team in tackles that season. He was moved to the weak side the next season after Smith departed for the Bears, but returned to play the strong side again in 2005.

One reason cited for his departure in St. Louis was his size. Listed at 6-1, 240 pounds, reports stated he played closer to 225 pounds last season. Smith generally looks for undersized linebackers in his scheme, and the addition of Tinoisamoa would create even more competition at strong-side linebacker where Nick Roach is expected to battle Hunter Hillenmeyer for the starting job. Hillenmeyer was the starter for the first seven games before Roach replaced him. Right now, it stands to be one of the few true position battles in training camp. Adding Tinoisamoa would give Smith even more depth at the club's position of strength.

The Buffalo Bills brought in Tinoisamoa for a visit on May 13. They've been kicking the tires of experienced linebackers this offseason, previously checking out Cato June and Freddy Keiaho. It's not known if the team extended a contract offer to Tinoisamoa. What it will take to sign him isn't known at this point but cap space isn't an issue for the Bears. They have $20.8 million in available room.

The Rams didn't do him any favors waiting until after the draft to make the move. He'll probably seek a longterm commitment but could wind up on a short-term deal in order to get back to the marketplace at a more opportune time--the start of free agency. Tinoisamoa signed a $24.7 million, five-year extension in October 2006. He was scheduled to earn $3.25 million this season and that figure might have been prohibitive in the Rams' efforts to find a trading partner.

UPDATE: Tim Graham of ESPN.com reports that Tinoisamoa will also visit Philadelphia. That's interesting because the Rams didn't view him as a fit for their defense and Spagnuolo is running the defense in St. Louis that he learned with the Eagles under Jim Johnson and then took to the New York Giants.

Q: was released Friday and I know the Bears and Lovie Smith wouldn't mind a productive veteran to round out their linebacker group. Is there any chance Chicago would go for him? Lovie is familiar with him from his days in St. Louis and he led the Rams in tackles last year. Does he play Hunter Hillenmeyer's or is it Nick Roach's spot? Or are the Bears trying to figure out if they're still a draft-driven team?

Sean Q, Arcata, Calif.

A: I don't think there is any question Tinoisamoa will be of interest to the Bears. As Smith likes to say, they're always exploring ways to make themselves a better football team. Given Tinoisamoa's track record with not just Smith but with defensive coordinator Bob Babich as well, he is someone that will surely come up in conversation at Halas Hall. It was somewhat of a surprise move that the Rams let him go last week after he led the team in tackles for four of six seasons but new coach Steve Spagnuolo is seeking bigger linebackers for his system. As Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch pointed out, Tinoisamoa is listed at 6-1, 240 pounds, but he played at closer to 220 pounds last season. That didn't stop him from leading the team with 135 tackles. Tinoisamoa, who turns 28 in July, became the first rookie in franchise history to lead the team in tackles in 2003, Smith's final season in St. Louis when Babich was with him as linebackers coach. He made 121 tackles and added three interceptions and two sacks. He did so playing strong-side linebacker.

Tinoisamoa moved to weak side in 2004 after Smith departed but went back to strong side in 2005 and made 15 more starts there. He would be an interesting addition and if he came on board you would have to imagine he would immediately be the starter at strong side, pushing Roach to a backup role and putting Hillenmeyer into a position where he would be challenged to make the roster. Roach replaced Hillenmeyer during the season last year and they are expected to battle for the starting job right now, but Hillenmeyer has yet to fully heal up and with Roach promoted over him last year, he has to have the edge going in. Pursuing Tinoisamoa wouldn't alter any draft-driven plans at strong-side linebacker. Hillenmeyer was signed as a waived free agent and Roach was plucked off the Chargers' practice squad. There should be a handful of teams interested in Tinoisamoa and the New England Patriots could be one according to the Boston Globe. The Bears would have to pay some for his services too and the question that would need to be answered is how much the club wants to pay for a two-down player? He may have stayed on the field in the nickel package in St. Louis, but we don't see Brian Urlacher or Lance Briggs coming off the field in the nickel package. It's worth keeping an eye on him.

Icness wrote:He's perfect to replace Hillenmeyer--he's essentially a faster, harder-hitting Hillenmeyer. Don't get caught up in his tackles stats though, they're artificially high due to scheme and people around him. That puts HH where he belongs as the top backup OLB.

emperorjones wrote:

Icness wrote:He's perfect to replace Hillenmeyer--he's essentially a faster, harder-hitting Hillenmeyer. Don't get caught up in his tackles stats though, they're artificially high due to scheme and people around him. That puts HH where he belongs as the top backup OLB.

Faster is what I'm all about. So tired of watching Hunter trailing plays regardless of how football smart he is. Agreed, the fact that the guy led the team in tackles isn't everything, but it does give me confidence that he knows how to get a guy down. I'm really hoping we grab this guy before he heads off to Philiadelphia. Adding ANOTHER starter through FA would be huge.

BEARS BITS BY VAUGHN McCLURE
Chicago Bears still hope to land linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa

May 27, 2009

Although linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa continues to make the free agent rounds, the Bears haven't given up on landing the veteran to help bolster their defense.

Tinoisamoa, who turns 28 in July, visited New England on Tuesday, his second AFC East trip since being released by the St. Louis Rams earlier this month. He visited the Buffalo Bills on May 14 before making a stop in Chicago on Wednesday. Philadelphia also could be in the mix.

The Bears are high on Tinoisamoa's list, and his status is certain to come down to the best offer. In Chicago, he could line up with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs as the starting strong-side linebacker, leaving the status of Nick Roach and Hunter Hillenmeyer in limbo. The 6-foot-1-inch Tinoisamoa, who reportedly played at 220-plus pounds last season, would reunite with Lovie Smith, his defensive coordinator for one season in St. Louis.

Both the Bears and Bills play traditional 4-3 defenses, but Tinoisamoa projects as an inside linebacker in the Patriots' 3-4 scheme. New England showed interest in him before the 2003 draft, bringing the Hawaii product in for a predraft visit.

Looks like Tinoisamoa down to 2 suitors -- Bears, Bills
By
Brad Biggs
on May 27, 2009 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (34) | TrackBacks (0)

And then there were two.

Unless a new suitor comes into play for Pisa Tinoisamoa, it looks like the veteran linebacker will choose between the Bears and Buffalo Bills.

Tinoisamoa visited New England on Tuesday but the Patriots' interest appeared to be cursory as they went ahead and signed Paris Lenon to fill a void at inside linebacker.

According to two NFL sources, no visit is in the works for Tinoisamoa in Philadelphia, which looked to be a curious match to begin with at least from our point of view. Word out of St. Louis was that new coach Steve Spagnuolo cut him loose because he wasn't a fit for the system. Just so happens the Rams will be running the defense Spagnuolo learned in Philly and then took to the New York Giants.

That leaves the Bills and Bears to wrangle over a player both teams want to plug in at strong-side linebacker. The Bears would seem to have an edge simply because Tinoisamoa played for Lovie Smith and Bob Babich as a rookie for the Rams in 2003. Tinoisamoa seemed at ease visiting with coaches and players alike during the OTA at Halas Hall last Wednesday. If the Bears can sign him in the next few days, he will be available to participate in 12 of the 14 OTA's, which would give him a good crash course on the defense in advance of training camp.

Stay tuned.

Bears agree to terms with Pisa Tinoisamoa on 1-year contract
By
Brad Biggs
on May 29, 2009 4:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

pisa529.jpg

Lovie Smith has a lot of faith in the play caller for his defense this season and the unit just added another part as linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa agreed to terms with the Bears on a one-year deal.

It's the biggest news on a busy Friday at Halas Hall when the team announced defensive lineman Israel Idonije has signed a two-year extension and seven of the team's nine draft picks have come to terms on four-year contracts.

While most of the focus this offseason has been on Jay Cutler and the revamped offense, the Bears will need to make significant strides on defense to compete in the NFC and Tinoisamoa could provide a boost in that regard. He's expected to be the frontrunner for the starting job on the strong side where Nick Roach and Hunter Hillenmeyer were expected to compete for the spot.

Tinoisamoa visited Halas Hall on May 20 and seemed at ease chatting with players and coaches alike on the field during an OTA practice. He passed a physical that day. He visited New England on Tuesday but the Patriots quickly moved to sign another linebakcer, Paris Lenon. There had been talk of a visit to Philadelphia but that never materialized and contract talks ramped up today.

He led St. Louis in tackles in four of the last six season, including during his rookie year in 2003 when he played for Smith and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Bob Babich. He's expected to be a two-down linebacker for the Bears, which last season meant being on the field about 63 percent of the time. Tinoisamoa chose the Bears over the Buffalo Bills, who he visited first after his release from St. Louis on May 8. Tinoisamoa had a relationship there as he knew Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell from his time in St. Louis.

If Tinoisamoa can improve the Bears against the run so the defense doesn't have to stack the line of scrimmage with as many eight-man fronts, his addition will be a success. The Bears were solid vs. the run last season but often times compromised the pass defense to stop it. When they didn't stack the box, they were overrun at times, like the 37-3 loss at Green Bay when the Packers rushed for 200 yards.

It's unknown how his addition will impact the rest of the roster. The Bears are expected to keep six linebackers on the 53-man roster or seven if they find a compelling reason to help special teams. Roach would figure to become a central figure for Dave Toub's special teams unit. FIfth-round pick Marcus Freeman is expected to make the team. That's five linebackers with the inclusion of Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, and that puts Hillenmeyer in a battle to make the team. He is due to earn $1.5 million this season and is still recovering from surgery to repair a sports hernia. He will need to be healthy in time for training camp to prove his value as a reserve at multiple positions. Jamar Williams and Joey LaRocque were both core members of special teams last season.

Tinoisamoa, who the Rams tried unsuccessfully to trade, is just the latest addition in what has been a busy offseason for general manager Jerry Angelo, who has proven the Bears are more versatile when it comes to constructing the roster, dispelling the notion it is a draft-driven franchise.

``We built this team many different ways,'' Angelo said. ``We've done it through the draft, we've done it through the free agency system, we've done it through trades. When you look at our roster over my tenure here, we probably have done it every which way you can do it. We really have. There are some teams that really abide by the draft. There are some teams that really look at free agency. I think we have had a good mesh of both in how we've done this and in a sound way.''

Tinoisamoa projects to be the fourth starter added since the start of free agency through means other than the draft. The team traded for quarterback Jay Cutler, signed guard Frank Omiyale on the open market and picked up another ex-Ram after St. Louis released Tinoisamoa's teammate Orlando Pace.

What remains to be seen is if the Bears will make a move to add help at wide receiver. The Bears tried to trade for Anquan Boldin and while it appears he's no longer on the market, Plaxico Burress is seeking work. He has drawn interest from three clubs, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus, and the Jets and Buccaneers are believed to be two of them. Burress' legal issues in New York will have to be resolved first, and progress could be made in the next few weeks. The Bears have also been exploring adding an experienced cornerback to their depth chart, bringing in Ken Lucas and Rod Hood for visits. They're out of the picture now but other veteran possibilities are available.

Clearly, the Bears and Lovie Smith want to do everything possible to make their new defensive coordinator look good.

Adding strong-side linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa to the defense gives Smith -- who appointed himself the defensive play-caller in January -- no obvious depth concerns or inexperience among the Bears' front seven. Expect Tinoisamoa, the Rams' leading tackler four times in his first six seasons, to beat out question marks Nick Roach and Hunter Hillenmeyer, who could battle for a roster spot.

Tinoisamoa (pronounced Tino-EE-sah-moe-AH) is as difficult on offensive linemen as he is on play-by-play announcers. A salary cap casualty in St. Louis, he is strong, smart, quick and motivated by a one-year deal that will make the entire season a salary drive. Beyond that, Tinoisamoa has a believer in Smith, who was his rookie-year defensive coordinator in St. Louis and is known to favor smallish, speedy linebackers. Smith had a lot to do with the Rams taking a chance on drafting Tinoisamoa, who had a felony assault conviction on his record, and probably was the biggest reason Tinoisamoa picked the Bears over the Bills.

BULL even PAX wrote:
Let's hope that tackling is rated triple AAA, not double AA.