Chip Kelly tries to place Ashton Jeanty’s start into context

The Las Vegas Raiders continue to struggle in the run game, but it is difficult to place the blame on Ashton Jeanty.

The running back got 17 carries against the Washington Commanders, but only got 63 yards out of them. Jeanty has yet to break off a game for over 100 yards, or received many opportunities to land chunk plays. However, several statistics show that the offensive line has been the primary culprit for Jeanty’s slow start, with his yards after contact exceeding his actual rushing yard count.

Now, Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is the latest to put Jeanty’s start to the season in a different light.

The raw statistics do not paint the full picture of how Jeanty is faring so far.

On Thursday, Kelly spoke to reporters, where Jeanty’s name and beginning of the season came up during the questioning.

“I think it’s the defenses right now,” Kelly responded. “If you look at it statistically, Ashton Jeanty’s tied for 10th in the league for carries with two other guys. Of the top 12 backs in the National Football League through three games, there are only four who average over four yards a carry: Jonathan Taylor, Kyren Williams, Bijan Robinson, and [James] Cook from Buffalo.

“Everybody else—Saquon Barkley averages 3.3 yards per carry, Christian McCaffrey averages three yards per carry. So Ashton Jeanty’s right in the bunch with those guys. I think across the league through the first three games, defenses are ahead of offenses at a big rate… That’s just the league. Sometimes defenses are ahead, then offenses catch up, and it goes back and forth. That’s the nature of this game.”

In fairness, Kelly does speak truth about the defenses the Raiders have faced so far.

Between the three opponents the Raiders have played so far (New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, Commanders), all three currently rank in the top ten in terms of rushing defense. That makes the game against the Chicago Bears all the more important on Sunday, as they sit just outside the bottom five in that category. Whether the offensive line can hold their end of the bargain or not will decide if the Raiders can take advantage of this weakness.

If there was a situation for Jeanty to enjoy a breakout game, this is the moment to do it.