Paris Johnson Jr. makes it very clear how he feels about the Arizona Cardinals' new coaching hire
The Arizona Cardinals acted quickly to replace offensive line coach Klayton Adams, who left to take the offensive coordinator gig for the Dallas Cowboys, with former Ohio State associate head coach and offensive line coach Justin Frye. Frye, who's making the leap into the NFL for the first time, was OSU's o-line coach for the past […]
The Arizona Cardinals acted quickly to replace offensive line coach Klayton Adams, who left to take the offensive coordinator gig for the Dallas Cowboys, with former Ohio State associate head coach and offensive line coach Justin Frye.
Frye, who's making the leap into the NFL for the first time, was OSU's o-line coach for the past three seasons. That means he's already very familiar with the face of the Cardinals' line.
Cardinals' newest hire creates player-coach reunion
Frye will be reunited with Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., whom he coached in college. Johnson posted his reaction to the news on X/Twitter:
That looks to be a sign of approval.
Frye's first year with the Buckeyes was back in 2022, which was Johnson's third and final year in Columbus. It was the first year Johnson started at left tackle and allowed just two sacks and 14 pressures on 449 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Johnson was one of two Ohio State tackles to be drafted in 2023. He was selected sixth overall by the Cardinals while Dawand Jones went off the board in the fourth round to the Cleveland Browns.
Arizona started Johnson at right tackle as a rookie, and he pushed through a rather troublesome season. He was charged with eight sacks allowed, 42 total pressures, and was penalized 12 times. Moving back to left tackle this past season paved the way for significantly better production as the 23-year old dropped his penalties down to seven and cut his sacks allowed (4) in half from last year and nearly did the same with his pressures allowed (23).
Frye will get to have Johnson back at left tackle to protect quarterback Kyler Murray, who had his best season since 2021 last year.
Judging by Johnson's reaction, Arizona got it right.
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