Running back Ashton Jeanty is quickly learning that turning around the Las Vegas Raiders is going to be a difficult job. The team is 2-5 and playing some really bad football.
After the Raiders’ shutout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, Jeanty got honest about the team’s culture.
“I’ve lost before in my life, but I definitely don’t like losing,” Jeanty said. “It’s not something I work as hard as I do to do. I don’t think anybody else in this building does to lose like that. So if we’re being honest, it’s been a losing culture around here for a long time, but we have to continue to work to fix that and bring winning back here.”
The Raiders have had two winning seasons since 2002, so Jeanty is correct in his assessment. However, former quarterback Derek Carr wants Jeanty to do something about it instead of talking about it.
“Yes, it has been hard there for a long time. Trust me, nobody knows more than me, big dog,” Carr said on the “Home Grown” podcast. “But the only people that can fix it are the ones in the building. You’ve got to set the culture, you’ve got to set the standard. We went to the playoffs two times, and it hadn’t happened in 20 years. … But instead of dwelling on it, I’m excited to see the young bat go run more violently than he’s ever ran. Pick up blitzes more violently with his hands than he ever has to push the team forward … because I believe in the Raiders, man.”
Can Raiders Finally Solve Their Issues?
There have been dozens of coaches, players and front office members who have tried to turn the Raiders around, and all of them have failed. Owner Mark Davis decided to sell a portion of the franchise to Tom Brady in hopes that he could help solve the problems.
He had a key role in picking Pete Carroll as head coach and John Spytek as general manager. Carroll is a Super Bowl-winning head coach, and Spytek was very qualified to become a general manager, but the early returns haven’t been good.
It remains to be seen if they will be the ones to turn the Raiders around, but it sounds like Davis isn’t planning any big changes yet.
More Raiders Get Honest About Team’s Struggles
The Raiders weren’t expected to be this bad this season. There is talent on the roster, but they clearly need more. Players have been getting honest about the struggles.
“Everybody knows we are not where we want to be,” wide receiver Tre Tucker said, via Raiders.com. “I think they have all the makings to be where we want to be. But obviously we’re not.”
Players are also looking inward to see if there’s a solution.
“[We’re] hungry, looking for answers,” safety Jeremy Chinn said. “I don’t think there’s anybody worried negatively. Guys are looking at ourselves in the mirror and trying to figure out what we can do differently.”
The Raiders have time to turn things around this season, but it has to happen soon.
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