Jeanty Shines in Return to Roots as Raiders Fall to Bears

Ashton Jeanty showcased his unique playing style during the Las Vegas Raiders’ narrow defeat to the Chicago Bears on October 1, 2023. Despite the team’s loss, Jeanty had a standout performance, accumulating 155 total yards, with 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns—two through the air and one on the ground. Raiders coach Pete Carroll expressed enthusiasm for Jeanty’s return to his original playing stance, which has drawn comparisons to the infamous character from the “Halloween” horror films.

Jeanty’s Distinctive Stance and Breakout Game

In high school, Jeanty adopted a straight-up stance with his hands at his side before the snap, a style he returned to for this game. This approach has proven effective for him, as evidenced by his remarkable collegiate career at Boise State, where he finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up last year, rushing for 2,601 yards, the second highest in a season in FBS history. Only Barry Sanders has surpassed that single-season total with 2,628 yards in 1988.

During the offseason, the Raiders coaching staff advised Jeanty to transition to a more traditional running back stance. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly emphasized the need for athletes to maintain a bent-knee position to enhance their performance. “In any athletic sport you’re playing, you’ve got to bend your knees,” he remarked in May. “If you’ve got to run a flat route on Fred Warner, you’d better be in a position to run.”

Jeanty struggled in the first three games of the season, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry on 47 attempts. During this stretch, he was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 57% of his carries. However, his performance on Sunday marked a significant turnaround, as he averaged 6.6 yards per attempt with five carries exceeding ten yards, including a standout 64-yard touchdown, the second longest in the league this season.

Looking Ahead and Injury Concerns

After the game, Jeanty reaffirmed his commitment to his distinctive stance. “That’s how I naturally feel good standing in the backfield. So, that’s how I’m going to play,” he stated, indicating that fans can expect to see more of this style moving forward. Despite the Raiders’ current record of 1-3, Carroll sees promise in the team’s running game, which totaled 240 yards against the Bears. “He had a great game, and he looked fantastic for us,” Carroll noted, also highlighting the contributions of running back Raheem Mostert.

On a less positive note, Carroll mentioned that left tackle Kolton Miller is likely facing a high ankle sprain, which could sideline him for multiple weeks. Miller sustained the injury late in the game when Bears defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon collided with him while attempting to tackle Jeanty. He was subsequently taken to the locker room for further evaluation and underwent an MRI to assess the extent of the injury.

As the Raiders prepare for their next matchup, Jeanty’s resurgence could be a pivotal factor in their efforts to turn the season around. With a renewed focus on their running game, the team aims to build on this performance and address the challenges ahead.