Year 2 is going to be quite different for Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty. He was expected to have a huge rookie season, but was held back by poor offensive line play and coaching.
One of the things that quickly stands out about Jeanty is his pre-snap stance. He likes to stand straight up, which is different than most running backs.
He’s a shorter player, so standing up allows him to see the defense better, but former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly wasn’t a fan. He quickly told Jeanty they were going to have to change his stance once he was drafted by the Raiders.
Kelly got fired, and Jeanty was able to return to his preferred stance. Now that Kelly’s gone, the running back had a chance to open up about the situation.
“It was crazy because it was literally the first day, I had got out to practice, like literally getting out to OTAs,” Jeanty said on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast. “Chip Kelly come over to me talking that talk, but he just basically said, ‘You can’t stand like that because how quick and how fast the NFL pace is and every step, every move matters,’
“But obviously, I showed that don’t really matter. I can be effective and efficient in that stance. I had to [go back to it].”
Year 2 Should be Better for Jeanty
Jeanty can rest easy knowing that he’s in much better hands heading into his second season. New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has proven that he knows how to build an offense that leads to running backs having success.
Plus, the Raiders added center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, who is one of the best interior run blockers in the NFL. Jeanty showed as a rookie that he has the talent to be a star running back.
The Raiders just have to do a better job of setting him up for success. Even if the team struggles on the ground, Kubiak is not going to abandon the run game ever.
Jeanty Excited to Work With Kubiak
Jeanty is going to be a major key to making Kubiak’s offense work in Las Vegas. The running back is very important. Kubiak just helped coach up Kenneth Walker III to win Super Bowl MVP and get a huge payday in free agency.
Jeanty is eager to show what he can do with a coach who is so committed to running the ball.
“It’s exciting,” Jeanty said, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Obviously, you have to love someone who loves the run game as a running back. To have someone possibly come in and emphasize that is exciting for sure.”
The Raiders do need to continue upgrading the offensive line, but everything is a work in progress. Just adding Linderbaum will automatically make the whole group better. The fact that the Raiders are also likely starting a rookie quarterback only makes Jeanty more valuable. He has a chance to emerge as a huge breakout star in 2026.
Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty Gets Honest About Chip Kelly Controversy