Pisa Tinoisamoa
Runs hard with good change of direction… tough as nails…well-built athlete who reacts quickly in run support…very emotional player who is relentless in pursuit…selected by Rams in second round (43rd overall) of 2003 NFL Draft.
2006: Showed how tough he actually was when he dislocated his left elbow, tearing the ligaments yet continued to play under such distress, later in the year he broke his left hand but just insisted upon having it put in a cast and continued to go out and play. With two weeks into December Pisa once again found himself injured, this time being the same kind of break to his right hand as his already broken left hand. Despite the fact he argued with coaches and doctors this injury was the final straw for them and the only way to keep him off the field was to put the tough as nails, throwback style player on inured reserved.
2005: Led team in tackles for third consecutive year…led or tied for team-high in tackles in eight games…led team with 13 tackles (six solo) and one pass defensed at Arizona in Week 2…team-high 12 tackles (nine solo) at New York Giants in Week 3…team-high 13 tackles and 1.0 sack at Indianapolis in Week 6.
2004: Named team captain midway through season…led team in tackles in four games - 14 (nine solo) at San Francisco 10/3, 12 (eight solo) vs. Seattle 11/14, nine (seven solo) at Buffalo 11/21, 11 (seven solo) vs. New York Jets 1/2/05…first sack of season, adding 11 tackles (nine solo) at Atlanta 9/19…season-high 14 tackles (nine solo) and a half sack at San Francisco 10/3…seven tackles (four solo) in NFC Wildcard Game at Seattle 1/8/05…six tackles (five solo) in NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Atlanta 1/15/05.
2003 Rookie Season: Pisa had an outstanding rookie season with the Rams. In his first year he was a terror on the field and proved to the oppossing defenses that he deserved respect. He led the team with the most total tackles. Something Archuletta had done the year prior. Lovingly known to teammates and fans alike as Hawaii50.
College Career
Well-built athlete who reacts quickly in run support…decisive diagnostician who accelerates quickly to the run alleys…shows instincts zeroing in on the ball…emotional leader of the Warriors’ defense, having started the last three years…has experience at middle and weakside outside linebacker…recorded 289 tackles (210 solos) with 15.5 sacks for minus 85 yards, 39 stops for losses of 140 yards, 11 quarterback pressures, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, nine pass deflections, two interceptions, and blocked field goal while starting 27 of 35 games.
Senior: All-America third-team and Super Sleeper Team selection by The NFL Draft Report…all-Western Athletic Conference first-team pick…recipient of the Alec Waterhouse Award, given to team’s Most Valuable Player…team tri-captain…started every game at weakside outside linebacker, except vs. Nevada (shifted inside to middle linebacker)…led team with career-high 129 tackles (89 solos), including 6.5 sacks for minus 38 yards, 18 stops for losses of 67 yards and eight quarterback pressures…intercepted two passes for 23 yards and deflected five others…caused and recovered one fumble…also blocked a kick…racked up a career-high 19 tackles (14 solo) with two sacks for minus six yards and four stops behind the line of scrimmage vs. Alabama…posted eight tackles (five solo), a pressure, a pass deflection, and an eight-yard sack against San Diego State.
Junior: Second-team all-Western Athletic Conference choice…played in nine games, starting eight contests at right outside linebacker…recorded 86 tackles (567 solos) with five sacks for minus 20 yards, 11 stops for losses of 31 yards and four quarterback pressures…deflected three passes and caused three fumbles.
Sophomore: Played in every game, starting five contests at middle linebacker…recorded 74 tackles (54 solos), four sacks for minus 27 yards, and ten stops for losses of 42 yards…caused two fumbles and recovered another…deflected five passes and had four quarterback pressures…posted season-high 15 tackles with three sacks for minus 18 yards and a forced fumble, earning WAC Player of the Week honors for performance against SMU.
Personal Info:
Born Pisa Donald Tinoisamoa in San Diego, Cal…attended Vista (Cal.) High…earned three letters in football…Palomar League, San Diego County, and CIF Defensive Player of the Year in 1998…three-time all-League, all-State, and all-CIF choice while also garnering all-America status his senior season…his 1996, '97, and '98 Panther football teams won the Palomar League and CIF titles…The Sporting News and Bob Griese's College Football Yearbook picked him as one of the Top 100 players in the country…Sporting News also rated him as the Top 25 prospects in the West…defensively, he recorded 75 tackles (12 for loss), six sacks, and three fumble recoveries (one for a score) his senior season…offensively, he rushed for 1,600 yards and 23 touchdowns…first player ever in San Diego County history to make all-CIF first-team on both offense and defense…general studies major.
