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Raiders OC Chip Kelly Sets Record Straight on Ashton Jeanty Debate

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Austin C. Boyd | Last updated May 29, 2025 6:07 PM ET

All signs are pointing to running back Ashton Jeanty being a major impact player on and off the field for the Las Vegas Raiders as a rookie. However, he concerned some fans when he revealed that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly told him he has to move on from his trademark "Michael Myers stance" that featured him standing up straight in the backfield.

The Raiders want him in a more traditional stance that has his knees slightly bent. Many fans were concerned because they don't think Kelly should be trying to mess with what's been working for Jeanty, who rushed for 2,601 yards at Boise State last year.

However, Kelly is now giving his side of the story, and it sounds like he wasn't the one who initially pushed for the change.

"Let's get that clarified," Kelly said when asked about Jeanty having to change his stance. "Deland McCullough, our running backs coach, is in charge of stances, steps, alignments, assignments and techniques, so he talked to him about that. I gave him an analogy of an athlete being in a bent knee position to make a play, and that got blown into ... I don't tell anybody on this team to be in any stances because I don't coach the positions.

"But it's a bent knee game. ... In any athletic sport you're playing, you have to bend your knees. If you gotta run a flat route on Fred Warner, you better be in a position to run, because that dude can fly."

Kelly went on to praise Jeanty for being so coachable, but it doesn't sound like they'll be allowing him to go back to "Michael Myers stance" this season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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