The next Aaron Donald? Kobie Turner focused on creating own legacy for Rams-ZoomTech News

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. — Kobie Turner was slightly salty.

Final February, quickly after he realized that Houston Texans defensive finish Will Anderson Jr. had received Defensive Rookie of the Yr — regardless that Turner had led all rookies in sacks whereas taking part in nostril sort out — he reached out to Rams teammate Aaron Donald.

After speaking with Donald, who retired in March as the most effective defensive gamers in NFL historical past, Turner spent every week in Pittsburgh coaching with line of defense guru Al “Poodie” Carson, an teacher of the Israeli martial artwork referred to as Krav Maga. Years in the past, a video of Carson coaching Donald whereas working with faux knives made waves on social media.

Carson additionally hung out in L.A. working with Turner and different Rams offensive and defensive linemen simply earlier than the beginning of coaching camp.

“It helps to sluggish the sport down,” Turner mentioned in regards to the coaching. “It lets you know now while you really feel various things, the right way to reply.”

Turner is shifting from nostril sort out to 3-technique defensive sort out — the place Donald performed for the previous decade, incomes 10 straight Professional Bowls and three NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr awards.

Turner led all defensive tackles in sacks (9) and defensive pressures (27) in 2023. His 9 sacks tied a franchise rookie report set by Donald in 2014. Based on Subsequent Gen Stats, Turner’s strain fee of 10.5% was the third-highest of any rookie defensive sort out with not less than 250 go rushes since 2018, trailing solely 2023 first-round choose Jalen Carter (12.3%) and second-round choose Christian Barmore (10.8%).

The trick for Turner this 12 months can be making the place his personal quite than making an attempt to imitate Donald, who took over video games in an otherworldly, freakish approach. 

“It is arduous in a approach, and it is easy in a approach,” Turner informed FOX Sports activities. “It is simple as a result of no one goes to do what Aaron does. He’s the best to ever do it for a cause. I hope to have the ability to construct as much as taking part in almost in addition to he did, however I’ve a unique ability set. I’ve a unique approach of approaching the sport. There is a ton of variations.”

To that finish, Turner mentioned he targeted this offseason on bettering his conditioning, with the expectation of taking part in greater than the 697 defensive snaps he logged final 12 months. Together with that, Turner labored to have a greater understanding of Donald’s place and a extra intimate data of latest defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s protection.

“I do know at instances I can put a number of strain on myself to be every little thing,” Turner mentioned. “Not even to be AD, however to make all of the performs I really feel like I could make, or to play every little thing good.

“So, it is simply persevering with to present myself grace. After which I do know because the season goes, too, everybody on the surface would possibly need to examine how I am doing to how he is carried out and issues like that. However I feel it is about staying inside this constructing, staying inside myself and doing the issues I can do and maximizing the alternatives that I’ve.”

Turner has a brand new line of defense coach to assist him attain these targets in Giff Smith, who served in the identical position for the Los Angeles Chargers and labored because the interim head coach when Brandon Staley was fired in the course of the season final 12 months. Smith served as a mentor for former Rams line of defense coach Eric Henderson, who’s now the co-defensive coordinator for USC. 

“The most important factor after I received right here that was so thrilling is the pure management qualities,” Smith mentioned about Turner, who was voted a defensive co-captain this 12 months. “As a result of that was a priority with AD leaving, clearly, that void. However he does it in his personal approach, and he is a mature sufficient child that he can deal with it.

“He is an absolute stud of a participant. However he is most likely a greater particular person than he’s a participant.”

Smith coached some proficient gamers whereas with the Chargers, together with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. And he lamented lacking the chance to educate Donald.

“I name it the Giff Smith luck,” joked Smith. “I get the job, and the best defensive sort out ever to play the sport retires.”

Nevertheless, Smith will get the good thing about having Donald sometimes cease by observe to lend his voice. Donald attended the Rams’ joint observe towards the Dallas Cowboys final month.

“Selfishly, for our unit it is large,” Smith mentioned. “Particularly for a man like [rookie DE Braden] Fiske, to have the ability to bounce some concepts and be taught some methods from him. So, for us, there’s not a price ticket you may placed on it. I feel for [Donald], I feel it is superior throughout that transition in the course of the subsequent part of your life that you just nonetheless get slightly style of being across the guys and being round ball.”

Turner will not change Donald’s manufacturing by himself. Edge rusher Byron Younger returns after totaling eight sacks final 12 months as a rookie. And the Rams drafted two explosive go rushers in Jared Verse within the first spherical and Fiske within the second spherical, each out of Florida State.

“He jogs my memory a number of Joey [Bosa],” Smith mentioned about Verse. “From the standpoint of he is a real, tunnel-vision assault and may win the one-on-ones. He has the power to shut out video games, and people guys are uncommon.”

Relating to Fiske, a smiling Smith mentioned: “He is similar to Kyle Williams, however a greater athlete.”

Williams was a six-time Professional Bowler for the Buffalo Payments, and Smith served as his line of defense coach for a part of his tenure. “They’re each very related. You are going to get 4 quarters of continuous ball. He is a primary rounder we received within the second spherical.”

Targeted on residing as much as lofty expectations on the sphere, Turner has created stability in his life via music. Turner’s mom was a part of the church choir, so he grew up singing gospel songs. He joined the choir in center faculty, which led to operating his personal a cappella group in highschool.

In school at Richmond, Turner enrolled in vocal research and have become the director of his personal a cappella group, composing a music it carried out in live performance. Since he is been with the Rams, Turner has carried out the Nationwide Anthem at Los Angeles Lakers and Rams video games, and in addition carried out with the Philharmonic a cappella group.

Turner’s heavy musical affect led to his nickname “The Conductor,” which additionally describes his signature sack celebration.

Turner’s musical style is an eclectic mixture of gospel, R&B and standard singer/songwriter requirements. His go-to record on Karaoke night time contains songs like “Jealous” by Labrinth, “Home of the Rising Solar” by the Animals, “Lose Management” by Teddy Swims and even Nirvana’s “Odor Like Teen Spirit.” 

“These music veins have form of unfold, and now I will be my full self,” Turner mentioned. “That complete human I’m, with the ability to hold that music aspect of me alive, even when soccer is basically, actually busy being out right here in L.A.”

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Observe him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.

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