NightLink II: Pisa Tinoisamoa to Visit the Bears

by Dane Noble on May 19, 2009 9:18 PM CDT

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An interesting piece of information from Brad Biggs this evening: former Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa is scheduled to make a visit to Halas Hall on Wednesday.

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.

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.

Pisa has already visited the Bills, and is also scheduled to visit the Eagles.

Thoughts?

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WOuld help.

That would be a nice little pick up. He would fit in well with #55, 54, Hunter can play in special teams, But Roach did pretty well, it would be a great comp. for the starter spot.

LET's GO BEAR's

by LasVegasBearsFan on May 19, 2009 9:48 PM CDT reply actions

I think that SS LB has been a need area for a while now, and I like Pisa better than what we have now. I just wonder how good he is in coverage since it seems like the strong side has to cover the tight end often in our scheme.

by devineben32 on May 19, 2009 10:01 PM CDT reply actions

Pisa is a very good tackler and he is familiar with Lovie Smith

he would make a good fit in Chicago.

by tomahawk44 on May 19, 2009 10:07 PM CDT reply actions

Ran a 4.59 combine

Makes him a legit 4.65 guy now…. So he should be able to cover…. Good size…. Good nose for the ball.

Could be legit.

When I played I was a triple threat.... Stumble.... Fumble.....Grumble....
"Marcus Harrison iz in ur Backfield sackin ur Quataback!"

by scespy12 on May 19, 2009 10:46 PM CDT reply actions

Although nick roach is the same ht. But heavier....

Ran a 4.65 40.

When I played I was a triple threat.... Stumble.... Fumble.....Grumble....
"Marcus Harrison iz in ur Backfield sackin ur Quataback!"

by scespy12 on May 19, 2009 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions

If we plug him in at the Strong

We’d have the best linebacker corps in the league.

"If God had wanted man to play soccer, He wouldn't have given us arms" - Ditka

by EricEmpire on May 19, 2009 10:59 PM CDT reply actions

I thought he was gonna sign with former Bears coach Perry Fewell in Buffalo.

I think Fewell was in St. Louis with Lovie.

He’d be a great addition to our team. Hope a deal gets worked out. I just wonder what the depth chart would end up looking like if he signed.

Would Hillenmeyer keep a roster spot? Would Jamar Williams be in or out? Nick Roach? The rookies?

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on May 19, 2009 11:16 PM CDT reply actions

Bad fit Guys! A little Football Moxie here please?

Wrong guy for this position!
This guy is to small and light to play Sam. Thats why the Rams cut him, …also the big salary he had coming up this year didn’t help either.
At 225, he’s a strong saftey. But then again we keep asking SS to fill a FS position, why not pick up Pisa who is a SS, put him in as a Sam Line backer and watch the TE treat him like a Pit-bull with a rag doll.
The Rams just got tired of watching this happen, … but Pisa is a Lovie Cronnie so who cares if he’s playing out of position?
“He’s Family”!! ….Just ask ex-Def COord.Babich!
Can we focus on where our holes are and not look at picking up guys just for speculation?
Again, Training camp is not auditions for American Idol where you have in a Thousand Guys and Take all year.
No 1 beef of all coaches is too many guys and not enough reps!
We have enough real needs to address without looking to waste time on wittling square pegs to fit into round holes.

by pete banachi on May 19, 2009 11:24 PM CDT reply actions

I guess you weren't paying close enough attention for the last two years...

when our SAMs were getting toasted in pass coverage by TEs. Hunter got demoted because of it… and Roach and Williams weren’t much better.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on May 19, 2009 11:33 PM CDT up reply actions

So?

You trade-off a little better coverage, …maybe?
But why bother passing when you can flatten him out with a TE, or pulling Guard and run over the wet spot?!
If you already have a mis-match in the running game, why gamble with a pass?
Coaching 101!

by pete banachi on May 19, 2009 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Does a guy who gets thrown around

Lead the team in tackling for 4 years because he is lucky or what? I mean, even if it is the rams, isn’t there something to that?

Oh, and "Training camp is not auditions for American Idol " check out the most recent photo caption contest. You may be pleasantly (or unpleasantly) surprised.

by Qgee on May 20, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Exactly!

I agree totally.

LET's GO BEAR's

by LasVegasBearsFan on May 19, 2009 11:38 PM CDT reply actions

He’s a great tackler— better than any of the other options we have at SAM right now. He’s also a playmaker.

But yes, there is risk in having him at SAM where he’d be undersized.

I don’t believe coverage would be an issue. Plus, he knows the scheme.

I also want to see what kind of player Freeman turns into though.

by The Kaiser on May 20, 2009 12:37 AM CDT reply actions

i couldn't have said it better myself...

plus, some sites have him at 240, he had to have weighed that at some point… all of a sudden, he weighs more than both.

by windycity72 on May 20, 2009 1:20 AM CDT up reply actions

All the reasons why this warrants an "eh" from me.

I'M A MAN! I'M 23!

by ChiFan13 on May 20, 2009 4:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Exactly!

Good Point Kaiser!
This kid Freeman is an “honest” 240# with 4.51 speed and threw up 30 (Thirty!)
reps with the Bar.
SN had him rated as #2 for pursuit and tackling for an OLB and #4 in blitz/coverage.
Pro style defense Big Ten Program at Ohio State, but overshadowed by the Beast Laurinaitis.
We already have this kid!
This is not like a smorogasboard where the more shit you can pack on your plate the better off you are.
Freeman is younger, cheaper (still trying to figure out how he dropped to the 5th rd?), faster, and stronger.

by pete banachi on May 20, 2009 1:37 AM CDT reply actions

I like it,

don’t love it, but maybe the idea is to bring a vet in that can provide stability at the position (something that didn’t happen last season) for a year or two, just until Freeman is ready.

by rdent4hof on May 20, 2009 8:42 AM CDT reply actions

No Pisa!

Pisa is too small to play Sam linebacker. I like Freeman but I heard that he will back up Briggs.

What about the undrafted rookie Mike Rivera to play Sam? I know he’s a rook but he’s got good size (6-2, 245) and athletic (4.63 40, 38 1/2 vertical).

by boondock_saint812 on May 20, 2009 9:55 AM CDT reply actions

From what I read about Rivera, he seemed like a good candidate for the SAM position (draft stock was hurt by the proliferation of spread offenses he was facing at college), but the Bears don’t seem to have been too impressed with any of the undrafted rookies.

by Spongie on May 20, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions