Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty entered Week 1 with plenty of hype, but his debut was mixed. The Raiders secured the win, and Jeanty found the end zone, yet he managed just 38 yards on 19 carries against the New England Patriots.
The offensive line struggled, and while Jeanty was drafted partly to help cover those weaknesses, it was clear there’s still work to be done. Jeanty will look for a bounce-back performance against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2.
Moreover, Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. is eager to face the rookie as he offered a lot of respect toward Jeanty.
“A lot of respect for him,” James told reporters on September 11 (h/tFernando Ramirez of The Sporting Tribune). “He’s earned the right to be a top-10 pick. I feel like when you go that high, they’re not having you, not coming in to play. So I feel like he’s earned every right that he’s got, and I’m excited to play him. He’s a great young back, and I can’t wait to play against him.”
How Will the Chargers Stop the Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty?
While James respects the Raiders youngster, his job will be to stop him from having a breakout game. As a result, the Chargers standout noted what they will need to do for Jeanty to have a similar game as he did against the Patriots.
“A lower guy, smaller guy, lower to the ground, so he got a good contact balance,” James added. “So, man, you got to be able to run your feet on guys like that because they can get up on it.”
Los Angeles boasts a solid defensive line, particularly against the run, with Khalil Mack continuing to rank among the NFL’s top defensive ends in run defense. Still, the Kansas City Chiefsmanaged to average 5.8 yards per carry against the Chargers in Week 1, which is a good sign for Jeanty to have a breakout game.
The Chiefs may not be famous for their running game, but they still found success on the ground against Los Angeles. After seeing the Raiders’ Week 1 success through the air, the Chargers might avoid overloading the box, potentially giving Jeanty more chances for explosive runs.
Ashton Jeanty Will Look for Bounce-Back Game
Raiders head coach Pete Carroll suggested the rookie may have been too “jacked up” before his debut. Jeanty doesn’t entirely agree, but he admits he needs to improve.
“I don’t think I was too fired up,”Jeanty told reporters on September 11. “It’s football, you’re always going to get fired up, but I think, in terms of the game, just making reads I’ve always made, just being better, honestly. I didn’t play my best in the run game, and I’ll be working this week to be better at that and be better for the guys up front.”
It’s still too early to worry. The offensive line hasn’t fully gelled, and it was Jeanty’s first NFL game. He’s a tireless worker with remarkable physical tools andjust needs one standout performance to silence the critics.