The Arizona Cardinals lost a gem this offseason when former offensive line coach Klayton Adams left the team to become the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys.
Before training camp even starts, Cardinals fans are being reminded of the impact that Adams can have.
Cowboys player raves about former Cardinals coach Klayton Adams
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson recently spoke to the media about topics ranging from the team’s new-look offense to his upcoming contract decisions. When asked about new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals, he only had positive things to say.
[Per The Athletic's Jon Machota](https://x.com/jonmachota/status/1932981876588699854), Ferguson said of Adams’ impact, “I'm really excited. You can feel the energy. I'm sure y'all can feel the energy, especially at practice. But it's every tiny little detail is almost elevated. And it's contagious. You can feel it in the room. You can feel it across positions. It just makes me excited to get the ball rolling and get it going.”
It’s difficult to hear as an Arizona Cardinals fan because Adams brought that same impact to the team in his former role. The Cardinals [ranked in the top five](https://sumersports.com/teams/offensive/) in the NFL in EPA per rush in each of Adams’ two seasons as the team’s offensive line coach. In 2024, the Cardinals received a top-five pass blocking grade from PFF.
Adams was consistently able to get the most out of a unit with an average level of talent. While it’s difficult to separate the impact of a position coach from the overall performance of an offense or defense, it’s clear that Adams had a positive influence on the performance of the Cardinals’ front.
As Adams takes on an elevated role in Dallas, it’s easy to project a massive improvement in the Cowboys’ offensive performance. Adams is one of the rising stars in the NFL’s coaching scene, and the Cowboys are fortunate to have him in the building.
With Adams gone, the Cardinals have done their best to replace him. Arizona hired Justin Frye to become the team’s new offensive line coach. Frye was formerly in the same position at Ohio State, further strengthening the pipeline from the Buckeyes to the Cardinals. Justin Frye has big shoes to fill in his first year with the Cardinals. If he’s able to reach the level of impact that Klayton Adams had, Arizona should be set up to make a playoff push for the first time since 2021.