The Conductor may have a lot more to say about the Rams defense in 2024

When you see the visage of LA Rams second-year titan Kobie Turner and his infectious smile, you may find it quite difficult to imagine him as one of the most violent and carnage-creating interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Ah, but don't be fooled. Turner is in his natural element when he is confronted by two offensive linemen intent on stopping him before he gets to the quarterback. More often than not, It's Kobie Turner who wins that contest of wills.

Kobie Turner, who is also known as The Conductor, is unlike any other young NFL superstar. He does not seek the spotlight, unless he is asked to perform as a singer with pipes that carry melodies at perfect pitch throughout the auditorium without the aid of a microphone. He is the guy who sprints onto the football field throughout OTAs. And he is the guy who will be the epicenter of any random and spontaneous chorus of laughter.

To say that Turner loves football is a vast understatement. I love live performances, but am content to attend plays, concerts or other live productions just once or twice a month. This young man lives and breathes football 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And he remains as passionate about the game when the sun is beating down on him in the midst of a grueling summer afternoon as when he makes a game-winning quarterback sack.

When the team selected former Wake Forest defensive tackle Kobie Turner, the team was looking for rotational help for the interior defensive line. The team understood that up to that point in time, NT Bobby Brown III had yet to show significant progress, and the loss of both Greg Gaines and A'Shawn Robinson to free agency were huge setbacks to a defensive line that simply did not boast adequate depth. Turner's selection in Round 3 was a clear and undeniable statement.

He would be a key component to the Rams defensive line rotation. But he proved to be so much more for the Rams in 2023.

This Rams rookie got ripped off re: ROY honors in 2023

Unlike many rookie starters in 2023, this 6-foot-2 288-pound Rams rookie played in just 62 percent of the team's defensive snaps. In raw count, that equated to 697 defensive snaps. And yet, even as he competed in a limited number of defensive plays, he led all NFL rookies in 2023 with 9.0 quarterback sacks. But that is just the beginning of his defensive production last season.

Turner put up 57 tackles, recorded eight tackles for a loss, created 16 quarterback hits, and was able to get his hands up and deflect two passes. In terms of getting after opposing quarterbacks, he did record 9.0 quarterback sacks to lead all rookies, but he also put up four quarterback hurries, five quarterback knockdowns, 16 quarterback hits, and 20 quarterback pressures.

What is most unusual about all of this is the fact that he accomplished all of that impressive production from an interior defensive line position. In fact, he lined up as the Rams nose tackle most of all. How many NFL nose tackles can you think of with that level of production in their rookie season?

It's that historical anomaly that should have earned Kobie Turner Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. But, don't take my word for it:

Turner outperformed DROY award winner Will Anderson in numerous key areas, and did so while facing far more double teams throughout the season. The reason for the disparity? Anderson was selected by the Houston Texans with the third overall selection of the 2023 NFL Draft. Turner was selected with the 89th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, a spot that many draft analysts shamed the Rams front office over because they viewed the selection as a 'reach.'

Isn't it funny how those same voices would rather tout someone less worthy than admit openly that they were wrong about him in their draft analysis and draft profiles?

Coach Eric Henderson was left stunned and outraged

Even if you argue that my opinion and weighing in on the matter means nothing, you cannot deny the fact that the oversight of the NFL Annual Awards left a bad taste in the mouths of some of the best coaches in the NFL. One coach who has himself been honored as the Best Defensive Line Coach in the NFL, Coach Eric Henderson, was floored by the decision. He rightfully called out the NFL for their undefendable position almost immediately:

Even if you assess Will Anderson's production as equal to or even slightly greater than that of Kobie Turner, (It's not, by the way), you have to give the edge to Turner due to the fact that he competed from a far more difficult position in 2023, the nose tackle spot.

Outside linebackers typically face an offensive tackle, with an occasional double block from a tight end or a chip block from a running back. That is a far cry from a nose tackle who faces an offensive center and guard on practically every play. Turner faced the most double teams of anyone on the Rams roster, and yet still led the team in quarterback sacks.

Even now, as the Rams pivot from 2023 to 2024, nobody is talking about or projecting Kobie Turner to equal or best his rookie numbers. Despite tying the rookie season of DT Aaron Donald, Turner has been replaced by lofty projections from the rookie class of 2024. And yet, Turner is the keystone for the Rams pass rush this season. And rightfully so.

Look for The Conductor to have a huge season in 2024

I love how former nose tackle Kobie Turner is set up for the team this season. While many have already begun to discount The Conductor's second go in the NFL, I am taking the opposite approach. So what about the team and the player fuel even more optimism over the player? Well, I have a lot of factors that I can point to. But in the interest of simplicity and time, let's hone in on three key factors:

III: He is far more familiar with the NFL in 2024

Perhaps the greatest single detriment to any rookies debut is the fact that the player faces a kaleidoscope of simultaneous changes across the spectrum of their lives. As such, even the most intently focused rookies must tune out many distractions simple to learn the playbook, their roles,and become familiar with all of the new people in their lives. That takes a lot of brain power to accomplish.

In Year 2, players have far more brain capacity to dedicate to learning/refamiliarizing themselves with the team and football. That jumpstart in concepts and tasks allows them to make significantly greater progress in the second season.

II: He has far more incentive to not play nice this season

After the type of rookie season that Turner had, and still falling short of prestigious honors, there are basically two options for him this year. He can either accept that the system is rigged against him, and become disenchanted with the game of football that he loves. Or he can embrace that disrespect, and vow to put on the type of second season that nobody can willingly ignore.

We often claim that football players should find a consistent level of play that needn't rely on temporal or episodic events to motivate players. But, what of players who are trying to reach that level of consistency? Wouldn't external forces that positively motivate a player be an advantage? In my opinion, The Conductor put up the type of numbers that certainly warranted DROY honors. This year, the disrespect from his rookie season give him no reason to play nice this year. Look out for an angry defensive tackle in 2024.

I: He has been promoted from 2nd lieutenant to major on this defense

However else you may see Kobie Turner in 2024, there is little doubt that he has been promoted from the ranks of supporting cast in 2023 to defensive star in 2024. That is an important distinction to make. While there is little expectation to get an Aaron Donald like presence out of Turner in 2024, the defense must rally around someone on the defensive front.

Right now, that rally banner will be carried by Turner.

That shift from a guy to the guy could bring a significant boost to Turner's numbers this season. Because he will no longer be focused at the nose tackle, he will not face as many double teams. That creates a significant advantage as he is one of the fastest and most agile players on the team's defensive front.

While NFL teams have more video footage to prepare how to block him, he will be competing at a new role, and has far more experience at facing NFL offensive linemen. But the ace up his sleeve in 2024 is the fact that the defensive coordinator, Chris Shula, will be focused more on freeing up Turner to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.

Don't be lulled into low expectations out of Kobie Turner's second season. While nothing is guaranteed, The Conductor is already showing great maturity and leadership to this defense. By the time the season begins, he will be prepared for the 2024 NFL season.

He was embarrassed by the NFL in losing out on the DROY in 2023. But that will only serve to motivate him this season that much more. I think that the Conductor may have a lot more to say about the Rams' defense in 2024. And I believe that it will be worth listening to.

Thanks for reading.