Ashton Jeanty makes analyst look foolish with breakout game

The statistics prior to the Las Vegas Raiders’ Week Four clash against the Chicago Bears painted a misleading picture about Ashton Jeanty.

While the raw statistics suggested Jeanty was struggling out of the gates, it was not all on the rookie running back’s shoulders. Prior to Sunday, Jeanty was the only starting running back with more yards after contact than actually rushing yards, and was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on over half of his carries. It put the slow start into much-needed context, suggesting all Jeanty needed was some help in the trenches to showcase the ability that made him the sixth overall pick in April.

Against the Bears, Jeanty was finally able to look like the dominant running back that the Raiders promised.

Jeanty’s stellar game was proof that it was always too early to give up on him.

Even though the Raiders took the loss on Sunday, Jeanty enjoyed a phenomenal individual effort, posting 138 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, as well as netting two receiving touchdowns on both of his catches.

The breakout game put a lot of comments already doubting Jeanty’s merit as a high draft pick back into the limelight, chief among them being ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive back Ryan Clark on an episode of “First Take.”

“To me, Ashton Jeanty doesn’t have that pop, doesn’t have that thing that makes him different,” Clark said on the Sep. 19 episode of the show. “What’s Ashton Jeanty’s ‘it’ factor? Because when you got it, you got it, and it pops. I don’t think this is a load management thing. I think this is a production thing. This is a pop thing.”

Clark was one of many voices coming after Jeanty, but the running back responded by silencing the doubters, at least for the time being.

Jeanty gets a stern test against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, which makes for the fourth top-ten rushing defense the rookie has faced in his first five games. However, he now comes in with more confidence than before, knowing that he can find the gaps and push his way through NFL defenders. The Raiders are also likely going to reward Jeanty for his efforts against the Bears with a larger role in the offense, particularly in the passing game.

Jeanty has shown that he can produce enough to match the tools, and that can only lead to good things moving forward for the Raiders.