Leaning on Pisa

[RamWraith]

By Jim Thomas and Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Saturday, Oct. 18 2008
LEANING ON PISA

As the Rams' defensive coordinator, Jim Haslett tried to coax linebacker Pisa
Tinoisamoa into more consistent performances. "He gets one or two plays every
game that he doesn't play real well," Haslett explained.

Things are different now. Haslett is the head coach, following the dismissal of
Scott Linehan on Sept. 29, and Tinoisamoa is putting together his best season
since 2005.

Citing a marked improvement in Tinoisamoa's mechanics and technique, Haslett
said, "He's doing everything right for the first time since I've been here."

Tinoisamoa has amassed a team-leading 46 tackles — including a season-high 13
in last Sunday's 19-17 triumph at Washington. He also had a sack and another
stop for lost yardage vs. the Redskins.

A second-round draft pick in 2003 out of Hawaii, Tinoisamoa topped the Rams in
tackles in each of his first three years, piling up totals of 121, 145 and 134.
He didn't miss a game until six weeks into his fourth NFL season, a span of 54
contests.

But when the injuries began to arrive, they came with a vengeance. Tinoisamoa
missed five games in 2006 when five different injuries — two broken hands, two
dislocated elbows and a sprained shoulder — ultimately landed him on injured
reserve. He finished with just 47 tackles.

Last year, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound weakside linebacker played in only nine
games before he again wound up on IR, this time because of knee problems. He
had 79 tackles.

Finally healthy and at peace in his personal life, Tinoisamoa, 27, is returning
to form. He said he spent his offseason re-dedicating himself to his family —
wife Shannon, sons Kaleb and Ryder, and daughter Mylie.

"Not to say I was a bad guy off the field (before), but I spent a lot of time
with my family, realizing what's important to me, realizing that I like my
lifestyle, the way I'm living," Tinoisamoa said. "And in order to maintain
that, I'm probably going to have to play good ... especially when they're
firing people around here."


NFL PUNISHES INCOGNITO

Richie Incognito's temper tantrum proved very costly Sunday in Washington. The
NFL has fined the offensive guard $25,000 for what it termed repeated verbal
abuse of a game official in the closing seconds of the Rams' 19-17 victory over
the Redskins.

Incognito drew a 15-yard personal foul penalty for the outburst, which meant
Josh Brown's game-winning field goal as time expired came from 49 yards instead
of 34.

Incognito also was fined $5,000 for a major facemask penalty and an additional
$5,000 for an illegal chop block. So his total fines for the day amounted to
$35,000. That's more than a game check ($27,000) for Incognito, whose base
salary is $460,000 this season.


PACE STILL LIMITED

Orlando Pace (thigh) again was limited to individual work at practice, with
Adam Goldberg taking all the snaps at left tackle. Pace's availability for
Sunday's matchup vs. Dallas "will be a game-time decision," Haslett said. "He's
going to work some (today), then we'll go from there."

Wide receiver Drew Bennett (foot), cornerback Tye Hill (knee) and running back
Antonio Pittman (leg) won't suit up.

ROMO TO START?

The Tony Romo saga continues in Dallas. Romo, the Cowboys quarterback who was
expected to be out a month after breaking the little finger on his right hand
Sunday, has been on the sideline during practice and, according to Cowboys
owner Jerry Jones, "It's very likely that he'll be ready to play" vs. the Rams.

Jones said that on a radio show Friday, the Dallas Morning News reported. Just
moments later, coach Wade Phillips said no decision had been made. Informed of
Jones' remark, Phillips amended himself, adding, "Whatever Jerry says, I'm
going with."

Veteran Brad Johnson has worked with the first unit all week.

TICKETS AVAILABLE

The Cowboys returned some tickets from their allotment, and they are available
for purchase. For information, call the Rams box office at 314-425-8830. The
game officially is a sellout, meaning that it will be televised locally (KTVI,
Channel 2).

[Mooselini]

Man did Pisa step up or what? Just as we needed it too! I was all for replacing him this year...but after last week's performance, I think that he has made a statement that he just needed to stay healthy.

[dgr828]

Glad to see Pisa's game coming back seeing it suffer the last two years due to injuries. He's one of my FAVs, BOOK 'EM, FIVE-O!

[laram0]

By Jim Thomas and Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Saturday, Oct. 18 2008
LEANING ON PISA

As the Rams' defensive coordinator, Jim Haslett tried to coax linebacker Pisa
Tinoisamoa into more consistent performances. "He gets one or two plays every
game that he doesn't play real well," Haslett explained.

Things are different now. Haslett is the head coach, following the dismissal of
Scott Linehan on Sept. 29, and Tinoisamoa is putting together his best season
since 2005.

Citing a marked improvement in Tinoisamoa's mechanics and technique, Haslett
said, "He's doing everything right for the first time since I've been here."

Tinoisamoa has amassed a team-leading 46 tackles — including a season-high 13
in last Sunday's 19-17 triumph at Washington. He also had a sack and another
stop for lost yardage vs. the Redskins.

A second-round draft pick in 2003 out of Hawaii, Tinoisamoa topped the Rams in
tackles in each of his first three years, piling up totals of 121, 145 and 134.
He didn't miss a game until six weeks into his fourth NFL season, a span of 54
contests.

But when the injuries began to arrive, they came with a vengeance. Tinoisamoa
missed five games in 2006 when five different injuries — two broken hands, two
dislocated elbows and a sprained shoulder — ultimately landed him on injured
reserve. He finished with just 47 tackles.

Last year, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound weakside linebacker played in only nine
games before he again wound up on IR, this time because of knee problems. He
had 79 tackles.

Finally healthy and at peace in his personal life, Tinoisamoa, 27, is returning
to form. He said he spent his offseason re-dedicating himself to his family —
wife Shannon, sons Kaleb and Ryder, and daughter Mylie.

"Not to say I was a bad guy off the field (before), but I spent a lot of time
with my family, realizing what's important to me, realizing that I like my
lifestyle, the way I'm living," Tinoisamoa said. "And in order to maintain
that, I'm probably going to have to play good ... especially when they're
firing people around here."


NFL PUNISHES INCOGNITO

Richie Incognito's temper tantrum proved very costly Sunday in Washington. The
NFL has fined the offensive guard $25,000 for what it termed repeated verbal
abuse of a game official in the closing seconds of the Rams' 19-17 victory over
the Redskins.

Incognito drew a 15-yard personal foul penalty for the outburst, which meant
Josh Brown's game-winning field goal as time expired came from 49 yards instead
of 34.

Incognito also was fined $5,000 for a major facemask penalty and an additional
$5,000 for an illegal chop block. So his total fines for the day amounted to
$35,000. That's more than a game check ($27,000) for Incognito, whose base
salary is $460,000 this season.


PACE STILL LIMITED

Orlando Pace (thigh) again was limited to individual work at practice, with
Adam Goldberg taking all the snaps at left tackle. Pace's availability for
Sunday's matchup vs. Dallas "will be a game-time decision," Haslett said. "He's
going to work some (today), then we'll go from there."

Wide receiver Drew Bennett (foot), cornerback Tye Hill (knee) and running back
Antonio Pittman (leg) won't suit up.

ROMO TO START?

The Tony Romo saga continues in Dallas. Romo, the Cowboys quarterback who was
expected to be out a month after breaking the little finger on his right hand
Sunday, has been on the sideline during practice and, according to Cowboys
owner Jerry Jones, "It's very likely that he'll be ready to play" vs. the Rams.

Jones said that on a radio show Friday, the Dallas Morning News reported. Just
moments later, coach Wade Phillips said no decision had been made. Informed of
Jones' remark, Phillips amended himself, adding, "Whatever Jerry says, I'm
going with."

Veteran Brad Johnson has worked with the first unit all week.

TICKETS AVAILABLE

The Cowboys returned some tickets from their allotment, and they are available
for purchase. For information, call the Rams box office at 314-425-8830. The
game officially is a sellout, meaning that it will be televised locally (KTVI,
Channel 2).

Jessica Simpson and her crew must not be coming to the game. Thus the return of the tickets by the Cowboys.

[unorthodox1999]

i hope the 2ndary can step it up, what a hell of a job pisa's been doing