Tag: Kobie Turner

Kobie Turner is inexplicably being left out of the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation

Kobie Turner has the most sacks among rookies, yet you can’t even bet him to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. Why is he being left out of the conversation?

There isn’t a single rookie in the NFL with more sacks this season than Kobie Turner. Yet, at BetMGM, there are nine players with better odds to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.

In fact, odds for Turner to win the coveted award aren’t even available to bet. Even if his odds were on the board, it probably wouldn’t matter much because Jalen Carter is -700 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, with Will Anderson Jr. holding the second-best odds at +375.

It’s bad enough that Turner isn’t among the favorites, but it’s egregious that you can’t even bet on him to win the award despite him leading all rookies in sacks with nine – a number that’s tied with Aaron Donald for the most sacks ever by a rookie defensive tackle.

His candidacy goes well beyond just his sack total, too. Pro Football Focus’ numbers can help his case, too. PFF credits him with 11 total sacks, three more than any other rookie. His 45 total pressures rank fourth among all rookies and lead first-year defensive tackles. His pass-rush win rate of 12.9% is lower than Carter’s 16.9% win rate, but Turner has five QB hits to Carter’s four.

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Turner leads all rookies with 36 stops, which are categorized as “tackles that constitute a ‘failure’ for the offense,” according to PFF. Carter only has 13 stops. Turner’s 72.8 run-defense grade is 11th among rookies regardless of position, better than Carter’s 65.2 run-defense grade.

Anderson has put together a terrific season for the Texans, too, and has an 80.1 run-defense grade, 57 total pressures and a win rate of 16.3%, but his four sacks (per PFF) are four behind Turner.

The common theme between Carter and Anderson is they were first-round picks. Turner, as we all know, was not. He was selected in the third round, therefore is much more of an unknown to casual fans. Yet, he’s arguably been the best rookie defender in football.

His standout performance of the year came against the Giants on Sunday, recording 2.5 sacks and 10 total pressures. The season-high for both Anderson and Carter is eight each.

Turner has been a revelation for the Rams this year, exceeding all expectations as a third-round rookie. And he’s doing all of this while playing alongside Aaron Donald, who he has more sacks than. Maybe it’s because Turner plays alongside Donald that he’s getting overlooked in the Rookie of the Year race.

No matter the reason, Turner deserves to not just be in the conversation, but leading it.

Kobie Turner has a chance to break Aaron Donald’s rookie sack record in Week 18

Kobie Turner tied Aaron Donald’s record for the most sacks by a rookie DT in NFL history and he has a chance to break it in Week 18

All the rookie talk has been about Puka Nacua this season, and rightfully so, but Kobie Turner is quietly having an outstanding first season in the NFL, too. The third-round pick came into Week 17 with 6.5 sacks, which was a half-sack behind Byron Young for the rookie lead.

Turner added 2.5 more sacks on Sunday against the Giants, giving him nine total on the year. That tied the NFL record for the most sacks by a rookie defensive tackle, matching Aaron Donald’s nine sacks in 2014.

The good news for Turner is he has one more week left in the season. therefore, if he records even just a half-sack against the 49ers in Week 18, Turner will set the record for the most sacks by a rookie in a single season.

Turner had already ranked second in NFL history with 6.5 sacks, edging out Chris Jones and DeForest Buckner among rookie defensive tackles, but now he has Donald in his sights. Any record that’s held by Donald is an impressive one, which shows how dominant Turner has been in his rookie season this year.

Turner was somewhat overlooked as a third-round pick but “The Conductor” has exceeded all expectations and been a force on the interior.

Rams’ defense has been playing lights out since Week 10 bye

The Rams have held all three of their opponents since their bye week in Week 10 to 19 or fewer points.

Much was made about the inexperienced defense the Los Angeles Rams trotted out to begin the 2023 season. Following the departures of Jalen Ramsey, Leonard Floyd, and Bobby Wagner, the Rams elected to start plenty of first- and second-year players instead of replacing those players with veterans.

There have understandably been growing pains for a new-look defensive unit since the season opener versus the Seattle Seahawks. Raheem Morris and the rest of the coaching staff have had to adjust on the fly and make alterations to the starting unit, whether it be due to injuries or because of a player not performing up to the team’s standards.

Aside from Aaron Donald, Jordan Fuller, John Johnson III, and Akhello Witherspoon, the other seven starters on defense in Week 13 have played three or fewer seasons in the NFL. And after a few rough patches early in the season, the defense has begun to round into form since the Rams had their bye week in Week 10.

In their last three games against the Cleveland Browns, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Seattle Seahawks, the defense has held each of their opponents to 19 or fewer points. All three phases of the defense have done their part in evolving into a formidable group, with rookies Kobie Turner and Byron Young emerging as key contributors alongside Donald.

Ernest Jones has become a leader in the middle of the defense, and Ahkello Witherspoon has continued to be a solid signing for the Rams in the secondary. Quentin Lake has been dealing with an injury in recent weeks, but he was also becoming a marquee fixture in the secondary as he was playing the ‘star’ role in Morris’ defense.

When it comes to advanced numbers, the defense has allowed an EPA per play of -0.086 (10th-best in the NFL) since Week 11. The pass defense specifically has been dominant, permitting a dropback EPA per play of -0.132 in the last three weeks, which is the sixth-best mark in the league in that span.

The last time the Rams had a three-game stretch of allowing 19 or fewer points was from Week 5 through 7 during the 2021 season. Besides the young players who have performed well to help the defense drastically improve, credit deserves to go to Morris, Sean McVay, and the rest of the coaching staff for the job they’ve done with this current group.

Worst of the Week: Clete Blakeman, Jamal Adams, Ron Rivera, Broncos in the red zone

Jamal Adams, Ron Rivera, Broncos in the red zone, Joe Flacco’s last two plays, and more bad officiating! It’s the NFL’s Worst of the Week!

Football is a wonderful, thrilling, inspiring game that can lift us to new heights in our lives.

But football is also a weird, inexplicable, at times downright stupid game that may force you to perform Keith Moon-level furniture destruction in your own living room.

So, as much as we at Touchdown Wire endeavor to write about what makes the game great, there are also times when it’s important to point out the dumb plays, boneheaded decisions, and officiating errors that make football all too human.

Folks, it’s time for the Worst of the Week for Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season.

Kobie Turner credits offense for Rams defense’s success vs. Cardinals

Kobie Turner credited the Rams’ offense for defense’s success in the team’s Week 12 win over the Cardinals.

Kobie Turner put together his best performance of the season on Sunday, logging a season-high two sacks. Despite his notable outing, the rookie interior defender took the time to credit the offense for helping the defense in the team’s convincing 37-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 12.

“It feels really good, their first drive(s) of the game (were) really long drives, so we’re able to go through each one of those plays (on defense), talk adjustments,” Turner said, via The Athletic. “And they’re still running the ball. It means a lot to be able to sustain some long drives, it gives us rest (and) allows us to be fresher when we go out there and get after the passer. Feels incredible. It gives you a lot of momentum, too, when you’re running the ball like that. You’re physically exerting your will on the other team.”

After the Rams began the game with a 75-yard drive to go up 7-0, the Cardinals matched it with a 12-play, 75-yard drive of their own. And the Cardinals would convert a two-point conversion to secure an 8-7 lead late in the first quarter.

Following Arizona’s opening scoring drive, the starting defense of the Rams held the Cardinals to 54 total yards and they didn’t allow another point. The Cardinals would score their second touchdown of the game with under six minutes remaining when the Rams already pulled their starters on defense.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Rams won the time of possession battle by possessing the ball for 34:52. The ground game imposed their will, with Kyren Williams and Royce Freeman combining for 220 yards on 29 attempts.

The combination of running the ball successfully and sustaining drives helped a young defense settle into a game that appeared to have a chance of being a shootout at the start. At the same time, Turner and the defense deserve a ton of credit for stifling a Kyler Murray-led offense.

Watch: Kobie Turner hits the ‘conductor’ celebration after sacking Kyler Murray

Kobie Turner lived up to his “conductor” nickname with this celebration

Kobie Turner is a third-round rookie for the Rams but you wouldn’t know that by watching him each and every week. He looks like a seasoned veteran, recording his third sack of the season against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.

After taking down Kyler Murray for a 6-yard loss on third-and-7, Turner pulled out a fantastic celebration. Nicknamed “the conductor” for his singing chops, Turner pretended to lead an orchestra after his sack to force a Cardinals punt.

Turner took advantage of all the attention paid to Aaron Donald on the play by quickly beating his block and sacking Murray.

Rams’ young defense shows out in 2nd half of win vs. Seahawks in Week 11

The Rams’ young defense was able to shut down the Seahawks offense in the 2nd half of Sunday’s win.

The Los Angeles Rams escaped with a 17-16 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11, and most of the attention should be on the defensive unit. After facing a 13-7 deficit at halftime on Sunday, the young defense of the Rams shut down the Seahawks offense in the second half.

According to rbsdm.com, the Rams had the third-best EPA per play (-0.426) and the best success rate (20.7%) among defenses in the second half of contests this week. In the first half versus the Seahawks, the Rams were dead last in EPA per play (0.282) among the teams who have played this week, and they had the 13th-best success rate (47.1%).

With another come-from-behind win over the Seahawks, the Rams have now outscored their divisional foes 33-3 in the second half of their two meetings this season. This is a credit to Raheem Morris for making the necessary adjustments at halftime and to the players for stepping up their play in the final two quarters.

The defense has been far from perfect this season, allowing 22 points per game (13th-most in the NFL) and recording only 21 sacks (tied for the eighth-fewest in the NFL). But it is a positive sign to see a young defense like the Rams show signs of being a cohesive unit at times.

Aside from Aaron Donald and Ernest Jones making plays, we saw some of the younger players on the Rams step up in the second half. Kobie Turner and Byron Young were generating pressure on Geno Smith and Drew Lock, Derion Kendrick had a game-changing interception after a rough first half, and Quentin Lake continued to excel as the slot cornerback.

If the Rams want to have any chance of sneaking into the playoffs, Sunday’s game against the Seahawks was a must-win. And for a Rams team that has Matthew Stafford starting at quarterback, it was the defense that did the heavy lifting to help secure a victory in Week 11.

Watch: Kobie Turner mic’d up in Rams’ loss vs. Packers

Rams rookie Kobie Turner was mic’d up during the team’s game against the Packers on Sunday

Kobie Turner has been a standout rookie for the Rams this season, making an instant impact as a starter along the defensive line as a third-round pick. He’s also received rave reviews from his teammates and coaches throughout his rookie year for the person he is off the field and in the locker room.

Despite being such a young player, he’s already emerging as a vocal leader for Los Angeles. He was mic’d up during the Rams’ loss to the Packers on Sunday and his passion is undeniable on the field.

He also has a fun-loving personality despite being an aggressive player between the whistles. After celebrating Duke Shelley’s fumble recovery in the end zone with his teammates, he jokingly asked if he was going to get fined for it.

Rams’ rookie class has been one of the most impactful in the NFL this year

The Rams needed a home run draft class this year and that’s exactly what they got, leading all teams in rookie snaps played

After parting ways with several key veteran starters in the offseason, the Los Angeles Rams were in desperate need of a home run in the draft – and not just with their top pick. They had to land several impact rookies on Day 2 and 3, and that’s exactly what Les Snead and Sean McVay did.

Through the first six weeks of the season, no team in the NFL has gotten more from its draft class than the Rams. According to Pro Football Focus, the Rams’ non-quarterback rookies have played 1,453 snaps, which is more than any team in the league.

The Texans are close behind, so including C.J. Stroud would obviously put them ahead of the Rams, but it’s remarkable how much the Rams have gotten out of their rookies this year, despite not having a first-round pick.

The four players who have really led the way in the 2023 class are Steve Avila, Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Puka Nacua. All four of them are key contributors, earning starting roles early in their careers. If not for them, the Rams probably wouldn’t be 3-3 right now heading into Week 7.

Avila has had some up-and-down performances but for the most part, he’s been outstanding. He has the seventh-best overall grade of any rookie lineman this season, according to PFF, allowing just two sacks.

Turner and Young are both among the 10 highest-graded rookie defenders this year, too. Turner ranks ninth with a grade of 72.1, while Young is 10th at 71.6. Young’s 25 total pressures are the most of any rookie and Turner’s eight pressures rank sixth in the class.

Nacua, obviously, has been a stud at wide receiver. His 82.2 overall grade is the highest of any rookie this year and overall, he’s 12th among all wideouts in the NFL – regardless of draft class.

Nick Hampton and Ochaun Mathis have gotten snaps at outside linebacker for the Rams, too, and Ethan Evans has been a fantastic rookie punter with his powerful leg. And at least for the time being, Zach Evans is likely to be the starting running back with Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers out.

It was impressive enough that all 14 draft picks made the 53-man roster, but several of them have already played key roles. The Rams appear to have hit a home run in 2023.

Kobie Turner, Jonah Williams will see more snaps amid Bobby Brown’s absence for Rams

Raheem Morris said Kobie Turner and Jonah Williams will replace Bobby Brown III during his stint on IR.

The Los Angeles Rams recently placed Bobby Brown III on injured reserve because of a knee injury he suffered in Week 5 versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Given that Brown is going to miss an extended period, Raheem Morris indicated that rookie Kobie Turner and Jonah Williams will see more snaps for the Rams.

“Tough, man. I think Bobby Brown’s playing really well, playing at a high level for us, but we’ve been fortunate to have Kobie go out there and really play some stuff for us and Jonah, obviously those guys can play some of the reps for us,” Morris said. “Obviously, we’re able to split some of those Kobie and Bobby reps based on base and some of the bigger structures and we’re able to get Kobie rest to get him in some of the small structures and also spell him in. But we’ll definitely rely heavier on Kobie and some of those younger guys that we have, (Larrell) ‘Murch’ (Murchison) is playing at a high level for us. We’ve had Jonah out there playing really well for us so we’ll get some snaps from those guys a little bit extra, be able to do it that way.”

Turner has already seen a decent number of snaps this season, primarily from the interior on obvious passing situations. The rookie defensive lineman has logged 13 combined tackles and one sack while playing on 55 percent of the defensive snaps for the Rams.

Seeing that Turner doesn’t have the size of Brown at nose tackle, Morris wants to split snaps between Turner and Williams. Williams has seen most of his snaps at defensive end, but he’s more of a run stopper than a pass rusher along the defensive front.

Morris also mentioned Larrell Murchison as a player the Rams could deploy more to prevent Turner and Williams from being locked into the nose tackle role. The Rams are allowing 4.3 yards per attempt (11th-most in the NFL) this season, and that could get worse with a lack of size at nose tackle until Brown returns.

Even though the Rams could address the position at a later point, they currently want to replace Brown in-house with a mixture of Turner, Williams, and others.