Becoming New Dad, Having New Mentor Has Made This Rams Player Even More Dangerous

Kobie Turner has spent the first week of Rams training camp chasing quarterbacks and watching reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett work. His mind, however, never strays too far from someone much smaller.

His 4-month-old daughter waiting at home, Rowan Alma Turner.

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Last offseason he got married and entered training camp as a husband for the first time. This summer, the Rams’ ascending defensive tackle arrived with a new title: father.

“Honestly, it’s been the greatest offseason of my life,” said Turner, who had a breakout season last year with 11 sacks. “It gives you a little bit more purpose. It gives you a little bit more reason, and it also gives you a lot more focus, too.”

Turner is already considered one of the most insightful and thoughtful voices inside Sean McVay’s locker room, but his new perspective as a father has given him another competitive advantage.

“When I’m in the building … it’s been all about business,” Turner said. “Especially now because I’m trying to get home to baby girl and spend some time with her before she has to go to sleep.”

Having children changes football players. All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua spoke Wednesday about how his son’s birth changed his perspective and priorities.

Turner’s offseason wasn’t spent reinventing himself. It was spent refinding who he already was, both as a man and as one of the league’s brightest young defensive linemen. The timing is significant because one of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history is seated alongside him in the defensive line meetings. That gives Turner another master craftsman to study.

Through the first week of training camp, players have raved about Garrett’s size, his speed, his freakish athleticism and his aura. But Turner observed something else.

“He pays a lot of attention [to detail]. I see him taking notes all the time,” Turner said.

That observation says almost as much about Turner as it does Garrett.

He’s watching how greatness is built.

“I’ve been able to appreciate some of the simplicity of a lot of his rushes,” Turner explained. “He’s just beating you off the snap. He’s getting to his rip, and then he’s able to work at the top of the rush.”

Instead of searching for another move to add to his already deep toolbox, Turner is learning that sometimes less becomes more.

“I feel like I can be similar,” he said. “Figuring out ways to sometimes dumb it down … get to the top of the rush and allow my mechanics to take over.”

McVay has noticed Garrett’s influence extending well beyond the practice field as well.

“What a great teammate he’s been in terms of imparting wisdom,” McVay said. “It’s really cool just going into the meeting room and feeling the vibe in there. … I’m incredibly impressed with the human as well.”

A few years ago, Turner was absorbing lessons from Aaron Donald. Now he’s learning alongside Garrett while discovering the greatest transformation in his life isn’t happening between the hash marks.

It’s happening back home every night when he sings to his daughter and football gives way to family.

“I sing to her a ton of ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ by the Bee Gees,” said a smiling Turner. “That’s my go-to, and she chills out from that one.”

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