Ashton Jeanty earns fan in teammate with his play

The 22-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers might have left a sour taste in the mouths of the Las Vegas Raiders, but there was plenty of good to take away from the performance.

The clear MVP of the game from the Raiders’ perspective was running back Ashton Jeanty, who shook off a rough debut against the Seattle Seahawks. Against the 49ers, Jeanty recorded seven totes for 33 yards and the only Raiders touchdown of the game. More importantly, Jeanty showcased that he was not going to shy away from contact, particularly on his game-long 13-yard run when he ran over 49ers defensive back Deommodore Lenoir.

That style of play had Jeanty’s teammates singing his praises after the game, despite the result.

Jeanty has officially earned the trust of an important Raider.

During his media availability, quarterback Geno Smith spoke about how Jeanty’s running style is going to help him carve out a successful career in the NFL.

”Man, it fires me up just seeing him the way that he runs,” Smith said. “He’s running through people, and he’s not shying away from contact. I think he’s going to be a really special player, like I’ve always said, and I
think he’s just got to keep working. There’s a lot of things that he can get better at as well, but to see him
in space with the ball in his hands and how dynamic he is, it was great to see.”

Jeanty’s strong performance allowed the Raiders to use play action more effectively, unlocking a new dimension of the offense.

With this, there is no reason why the Raiders offense should not see serious improvement. Jeanty now has shown he can handle life in the NFL, and Smith was able to find players downfield because of it. If the Raiders can get both aspects clicking, there is no reason why they should not have one of the more exciting offenses in the league.

Jeanty set for a massive role in his rookie season, and Smith has complete faith in the sixth overall pick to get it done.