The Las Vegas Raiders may have lost their ninth-straight game in Week 16 against the Houston Texans, but there were some positives to come from the contest. Ashton Jeanty was one of the most hyped rookie running backs to come into the NFL in years, but he has struggled to make an impact this season.
Much of that has been due to the fact that he frequently gets hit as soon as he touches the ball. The Raiders’ offensive line actually opened some holes for him against the Texans. He ended the game with 188 total yards and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving).
The Texans have the No. 1 defense in years and points allowed this season. They also have a top-five rushing defense. Despite that, Jeanty was able to have his best game of the season.
Texans defensive end Will Anderson has cemented himself as one of the best young defensive players in the NFL. Even though he hasn’t been in the league long, Jeanty’s performance caused him to do something he hasn’t done before.
“I’ve never been in the game and actually like stopped and was like: ‘man this man’s a dog,’” Anderson said after the game, via Kristie Rieken of the Associated Press. “A ton of respect for him. He’s going to be a really good player in this league. Tough back, tough runner, hard to bring down. He’s going to do a lot of great things in this league.”
Pete Carroll Praises Jeanty’s Performance
If Jeanty were able to have the kind of game he had against the Texans more often this season, the Raiders likely would have a much better record. Head coach Pete Carroll wants to run the ball, which is why the team used a top-10 pick on Jeanty.
He was really happy to finally see Jeanty get going.
“It was a beautiful day to watch Ashton,” Carroll told reporters. “His talent is so obvious to me and anyone who has watched him. He’s just really hard to tackle. Guys just fall off of him, and he just keeps striding. It was great to see him have that much space and be able to do his thing.”
Danielle Hunter Also Impressed With Jeanty
On the opposite side of the defensive line from Anderson is Danielle Hunter, who is also an elite player. He got an up-close look at Jeanty and came away impressed with the young running back.
“He’s a solid running back,” Hunter said of Jeanty. “Break tackles, low center of gravity. You know, you see what he did out there. I think he’s going to be a great player in his league.
“There’s a reason why he went the pick that he went. Being able to keep staying up, making plays, jumping out of tackles. We knew on film that he was going to be able to do stuff like that. So the biggest thing was just being able to swarm today.”
Jeanty has been showing flashes that he can be an elite playmaker for the Raiders, but they have to do a better job setting him up for success.
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