Why Justin Frye, a former offensive line coach at Ohio State, was hired by the Arizona Cardinals

When the Arizona Cardinals made the decision to hire Justin Frye as their new offensive line coach, it immediately captured the attention of both NFL insiders and college football enthusiasts. Known for his work at Ohio State University, where he was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator, Frye’s hiring was seen as a significant step in rebuilding the Cardinals’ offensive line. This move was not just about bringing in a coach with experience but someone who had shown the ability to develop top-tier talent and lead elite offensive units to success. Understanding why the Cardinals chose Frye requires looking at his impressive career trajectory, his specific skill set as an offensive line coach, and the need for a complete overhaul of Arizona’s offensive line.

Background on Justin Frye

Before delving into why Frye was hired by the Arizona Cardinals, it’s important to understand his background and the achievements that led to his hiring.

Justin Frye is a coach with deep experience in both college and professional football. Before joining Ohio State, Frye made his mark at several prominent programs, including as an assistant coach at UCLA, where he was tasked with building the offensive line and helping to elevate the Bruins’ performance. Frye’s influence at UCLA was immediately felt, as he helped develop standout linemen who would go on to have successful careers in the NFL. However, it was his role at Ohio State, under head coach Ryan Day, that truly solidified his reputation as one of the top offensive line coaches in the nation.

At Ohio State, Frye helped engineer a dominant offensive line that played a pivotal role in the Buckeyes’ success on offense. Under his tutelage, Ohio State’s offensive line became one of the most feared in college football, known for its size, technique, and, most importantly, its ability to open up lanes for the running game and protect quarterbacks in the pocket. Frye’s efforts helped Ohio State to a series of successful seasons, including a Big Ten title and multiple appearances in the College Football Playoff.

During his time in Columbus, Frye also proved adept at developing individual talent. His work with players like Paris Johnson Jr., who became a consensus All-American and a top NFL draft pick, demonstrated his ability to develop talent from the ground up. Frye’s linemen were often praised for their technique, discipline, and physicality, traits that are crucial at the next level in the NFL.

The Arizona Cardinals’ Offensive Line Struggles

The Arizona Cardinals’ offensive line had been a point of weakness for several seasons, which played a significant role in the team’s inability to achieve consistent success on offense. Quarterback Kyler Murray’s mobility and playmaking ability helped mask some of these deficiencies, but the reality remained that Arizona’s offensive line was often inconsistent, particularly in pass protection. This inconsistency led to the Cardinals struggling to execute their offense at a high level, especially in critical situations.

With Murray’s potential as the franchise quarterback, it became evident that the Cardinals needed to invest in their offensive line. To maximize Murray’s potential and protect their investment in him, the Cardinals had to address the offensive line and ensure they could protect the quarterback and open lanes for the running game. As a result, the hiring of a coach with a proven track record in offensive line development became a top priority.

Justin Frye, with his history of building dominant offensive lines, seemed like the perfect candidate for the job. His ability to coach players up from all levels of experience, his detailed understanding of offensive line technique, and his proven success at Ohio State made him an attractive option for a team desperate to fix its offensive line issues.

Why Justin Frye Was the Right Fit for the Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals’ decision to hire Justin Frye was driven by several key factors, each of which aligned perfectly with what the team needed at that moment in time.

1. Proven Success in Developing Offensive Linemen

Frye’s most notable strength is his ability to develop offensive linemen into elite players. During his time at Ohio State, Frye played a key role in turning the Buckeyes’ offensive line into one of the most dominant units in the country. The line was known for its size, technique, and ability to both protect the quarterback and create holes for the running game. These qualities are exactly what the Arizona Cardinals needed to address in their offensive line.

Under Frye’s leadership, Ohio State’s offensive line produced multiple NFL Draft picks, including Paris Johnson Jr., one of the top offensive linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft class. The development of such high-caliber talent is indicative of Frye’s ability to elevate players’ skill sets, which is crucial for an NFL team looking to develop young talent and turn around a struggling unit.

In particular, Frye’s success with players who had a mix of experience and potential makes him a great fit for a Cardinals offensive line that needed both immediate improvements and long-term development.

2. Focus on Technique and Discipline

One of Frye’s trademarks as an offensive line coach is his attention to detail when it comes to technique. He is known for emphasizing fundamentals and ensuring that his players develop strong, consistent technique. This is especially important in the NFL, where the difference between a good and great offensive lineman can often come down to technical precision.

The Arizona Cardinals had struggled with missed assignments, poor technique, and a lack of consistency across the offensive line in previous years. Frye’s discipline-oriented approach was seen as the ideal solution for a team that needed to improve on all these fronts.

His teaching method prioritizes fundamentals like footwork, hand placement, pad level, and pass blocking, all of which are essential for success in the NFL. In addition, Frye is also adept at adjusting his coaching to each individual player’s strengths and weaknesses, helping players improve where they are weakest while continuing to develop their existing skills. This flexibility and focus on technique were seen as assets that would immediately benefit the Cardinals.

3. Proven Record of Success at a High Level

As the offensive line coach at Ohio State, Frye coached some of the best talent in college football. The Buckeyes’ offensive line consistently ranked among the top in the country, both in terms of pass protection and run blocking. This success didn’t come by accident. Frye’s coaching played a pivotal role in developing Ohio State’s offensive line into an elite unit, which in turn helped the team perform at a high level offensively.

This success is highly transferable to the NFL. While college and NFL offenses have some differences, the fundamentals of offensive line play remain the same. Frye’s success in developing NFL-caliber talent at Ohio State and his ability to coach up players to compete at the highest level gave the Arizona Cardinals confidence that he could achieve similar results in the NFL.

4. Experience in High-Pressure Environments

Frye’s time at Ohio State also means he has experience coaching in high-pressure environments. Ohio State is one of the most storied programs in college football, and the pressure to perform is immense. Frye’s ability to develop offensive linemen and succeed under this pressure was a huge selling point for the Cardinals.

In the NFL, the stakes are even higher, with playoff berths, contracts, and team futures on the line. The Arizona Cardinals needed a coach who could thrive in this high-stakes environment, and Frye’s experience in the spotlight at Ohio State made him an ideal candidate.

5. Commitment to Building a Balanced, Effective Offense

Finally, Frye’s overall offensive philosophy—emphasizing a balanced attack with strong run blocking and pass protection—was exactly what the Arizona Cardinals needed. The Cardinals have had flashes of offensive brilliance, but they’ve also been inconsistent. Frye’s work at Ohio State was always geared toward making sure that the offensive line was both a strength in the passing game and in the running game. This dual emphasis is critical in today’s NFL, where teams must be able to do both effectively to win games.

By bringing in a coach who has built such a well-rounded, balanced offensive line at Ohio State, the Cardinals hope to improve their offensive consistency and, ultimately, their overall offensive efficiency.