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Ashton Jeanty has already had to change up an aspect of his game at the request of Chip Kelly by using a bad analogy

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Justin Churchill | Last updated May 19, 2025 9:34 PM ET

When you watch new Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty back in college, there is one thing in particular that stands out that made him so likable. His pre-snap stance in the backfield became iconic.

Fans started to compare the stance to Michael Myers, a Halloween/scary movie figure who stands up straight and stares down his victims. It fit Jeanty because, well, he was staring down every player he was about to run through or over. He did it just about every single play, and it became somewhat of his trademark with the Boise State Broncos, and something that fans loved and remembered.

But now it's gone, and we saw that during some of the rookie minicamp videos from the first week. We didn't see much, but we saw enough to know that Jeanty was down in a stance that every running back gets down in before the ball snaps. And that was enough for fans to question why.

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"You know, sometimes you have to, you know, go with the flow," Jeanty told Kay Adams. "What's crazy is, Chip Kelly [Raiders offensive coordinator] comes to me first day of rookie minicamp, and he's like 'You ever play basketball?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, I play basketball, you know I can dunk and all that.'

"He's like, 'Okay, show me how you would guard me,' and he's acting like he's holding the ball. And then he's like, 'That's exactly why you have to be down in your running back stance.' He won for now, I'm going to try and persuade him one day. I have to earn my stripes and make some plays first, but I don't think it's going to be the end [of the stance]."

Here's EXACTLY how Chip Kelly got Ashton Jeanty to change his pre-snap stance. #Raiders @AshtonJeanty2 @PaniniAmerica pic.twitter.com/VAqaA5sPpV
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) May 19, 2025

It seems like maybe Kelly was just joking around, but who knows? If that's what he feels like is better for Jeanty's game, then so be it. But it is good to know that even the smallest of things, something like that, which probably isn't that big of a deal, Jeanty is willing to change and listen to. It just shows how coachable he really is.

Don't worry though, fans, it feels like the Michael Myers stance will be back eventually. Maybe after we see Jeanty score his first touchdown or break off his first big time run, the stance will be back. But really, it's not that crazy of a deal.

For all we know, this could have been a test by Kelly to see how Jeanty would respond to something so small so early on in his career.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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