Coach Steve Spagnuolo likes bigger linebackers, and one thing Pisa Tinoisamoa lacks is size. The Rams have released the veteran linebacker, who led the team in tackles last season with 135, but really doesn’t fit into Spagnuolo’s overall vision for the defense at 220 pounds.
With the move, Chris Draft likely will move over to man the starting strongside linebacker position and second-round draft pick James Laurinaitis becomes the starting middle linebacker.
“This was a difficult decision based on a lot of factors,” Spagnulo said in a statement released by the team. “I have a great deal of respect for Pisa and wish him all the best.”
Tinoisamoa, 27, was a second-round draft pick by the Rams out of Hawaii in 2003. That season, he became the first rookie in franchise history to lead the team in tackles. He registered 121 stops for the Rams’ 2003 NFC West division championship squad. He also led the squad in stops in ‘04 (with 145) and ‘05 (with 134).
At his best, Tinoisamao played with speed and passion. He could go sideline to sideline, and wasn’t afraid to take on blockers _ be they fullbacks or 330-pound blockers. But he had a tendency to overrun plays, and while willing, frequently would get wiped out by those bigger blockers.
Hand, knee, shoulder, elbow, and ankle injuries struck in ‘06 and ‘07, forcing Tinoisamoa to miss 12 of 32 games. But he stayed healthy last season, playing all 16 games for the fourth time in six NFL seasons.
Tinoisamoa was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent following the 2006 season, but five games into that campaign he signed a $24.7 million contract extension through 2011. This coming season, Tinoisamoa was scheduled to make a base salary of $3.25 million and count $4.25 million against the cap.
Releasing him frees up $2.25 million in cap space. Once they sign their rookies and pay off some incentives and escalators that kick in on other contracts, the Rams would have been tight against the cap prior to Tinoisamoa’s release.
Tinoisamoa basically became a man without a position when the new coaching staff decided to switch Will WItherspoon from middle linebacker to Tinoisamoa’s weakside linebacker spot earlier this offseason. With Laurinaitis and Draft in the middle that left only the strongside position for Tinoisamoa.
The strongside position frequently requires the linebacker to take on tight ends, and at 220 pounds, Tinoisamoa is far from ideal size for that role.
Barring the addition of another veteran in free agency, the Rams are paper thin at the position, at least in terms of proven talent. Current backups Larry Grant, David Vobora, Chris Chamberlain are fringe players. Quinton Culberson opened the 2008 season at strongside linebacker, but played poorly and was replaced by Draft in the lineup after just three games.
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