The significance of playing on quarterback Kyler Murray’s blindside isn’t lost on Johnson. It’s long been considered a premier position. His last foray at left tackle was his final year at Ohio State, when his quarterback was C.J. Stroud and the passing game included new Cardinals teammate Marvin Harrison Jr.
That’s when Johnson said he developed the mindset of how he needs to play at left tackle.
“I think that’s what I might be most excited about,” Johnson said. “Especially when the protections are the longer ones and are one-on-one, (those) I tend to love the most, because halfway through the play if you are locking them up and you know they can’t go anywhere, you start to smile a little bit. ‘Oh dude — ball’s gone. Ball is gone and it’s going to be a touchdown, it’s going to be a huge gain.'”
Johnson “is a specimen,” Murray said, so he makes sense on the left side.
“He’s played left before in his life so something he’s got to get back to, and he will,” the quarterback said.
Left tackle is a premier position because of the guys who have played it – Hall of Famers like Walter Jones and Orlando Pace, long-time standouts like Trent Williams and Andrew Whitworth. Johnson watches all of them.
In a perfect world, Johnson’s game reaches the same level, where young tackles are told, “That’s a guy you need to watch” and learn from the effort, the finish, the technique.
That kind of performance can only help the Cardinals. And it certainly would draw deference in the locker room.
“It’s all about respect,” Johnson said. “I’m still trying to grow, but also speaking up more, especially at left tackle, which is a whole different role.”
