Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty didn’t put up the kind of numbers he had hoped to as a rookie last season.
Even though that was mostly a result of a dysfunctional offense and an inconsistent offensive line, Jeanty was still able to take some lessons from the experience.
“When everything is not going well, continuing to go to work and having hope and faith,” Jeanty said of what he learned last season. “I think that’ll carry into this year. Just taking it one week at a time, whether you win or you lose, you’ve got to attack the next game and the next week with the same mindset.
“I’d say just (being) consistent. Sometimes you don’t always get the results you want on the field, but you have to continue to be consistent regardless of the results that you get week after week.”
Perhaps it’s that mindset that has allowed Jeanty to allow his voice to be heard a bit more as he enters his second season.
“I think being more vocal for sure,” Jeanty said of one of his goals. “It’s always tough being in the first year trying to figure out so much stuff. But this year, there’s a lot of expectations for me and I think I’ve got to make a big jump. I think that starts with helping my teammates as well and just being a better teammate. So, I think that starts with leadership.”
New offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko has noticed.
“I think he’s taking a leadership role, and I love to see that from him,” he said. “Love to see him just come with that enthusiasm every day, so we’re excited for him and what he brings. And just keep coaching every single rep, getting better, being very deliberate on what we’re asking him to do each and every day so we can build on his strengths to put him in a position to be successful.”
That will likely include using him as a receiver even more in the new system after he was able to haul in 55 catches for 346 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie.
The scheme of Janocko and head coach Klint Kubiak should help by putting Jeanty in more positive situations in both the run and pass game.
“I feel like I can run in any scheme, but this one’s especially great,” Jeanty said. “Running the wide zone and really attacking the defense and getting them running and then hitting them with some inside zone and play action. So, everything goes together really well and I’m just super excited to keep getting better at the run scheme.”
That could help create even more opportunities in the passing game.
“I think (this offense) is going to help a lot,” Jeanty said. “That was one thing I worked on this offseason, just getting better at running routes. In this offense, anybody can pretty much do any route. So, the more I continue to do that, I think the more it’ll help the team out and help us win.”
So will an improved offensive line.
Left tackle Kolton Miller is fully healthy entering camp and the Raiders made center Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history with the knowledge the group would have to get better up front.
The bonds are already forming between Jeanty and the guys up front.
“Ashton’s a fun guy to be around,” Linderbaum said. “Extremely hard worker. Another guy that just wants to be great. Really excited to be able to play with him. As an offensive line unit, the run game starts with us if we can block the guys up front. And then having a special (talent) back there to have the big regular runs is going to be really valuable and important.”
Jeanty’s bonding hasn’t been limited to his offensive teammates.
He was excited when the team signed Quay Walker, who he considers one of the best linebackers in the league.
Jeanty wasted no time sitting down with Walker during OTAs to exchange notes to help them understand each other’s positions better.
“He’s so young, fast, electric, powerful,” Walker said. “I haven’t really gone up against him in pads, but he’s so explosive, smart as well. I try to pick his brain, he’ll try to pick mine.”
Jeanty said it has been a productive relationship.
“I think he’s one of the best linebackers in the game,” Jeanty said. “I feel like he’s a little underrated. With what he’s done, to learn from him, learn what he’s watching, what running backs are doing, it only helps my game to see how I can better set up runs and all types of things.”
A big step forward for Jeanty would be a huge boost for a Raiders team that needs to be able to run the ball to have the kind of success they hope for this season.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
