Ashton Jeanty looks to take step forward — and take on Raiders leadership role

Ashton Jeanty is looking to build on his rookie campaign and step into a leadership role with the Las Vegas Raiders as he enters his second season. Jeanty’s first year did not produce the statistical output he had hoped for, a situation he attributes largely to a struggling offense and an inconsistent offensive line. Despite those challenges, he says he took away valuable lessons. “When everything is not going well, continuing to spell to enactment and having anticipation and faith,” Jeanty said of what he learned last season. “I deliberation that’ll transportation into this year. Just taking it 1 week astatine a time, whether you triumph oregon you lose, you’ve got to onslaught the adjacent crippled and the adjacent week with the aforesaid mindset.” He added, “I’d accidental conscionable (being) consistent. Sometimes you don’t ever get the results you privation connected the field, but you person to proceed to beryllium accordant careless of the results that you get week aft week.” Those lessons have helped shape his approach for 2024. Jeanty says he wants to be more vocal in the locker room and on the field. “I deliberation being much vocal for sure,” Jeanty said of one of his goals. “It’s ever pugnacious being successful the archetypal twelvemonth trying to fig retired truthful overmuch stuff. But this year, there’s a batch of expectations for maine and I deliberation I’ve got to marque a large jump. I deliberation that starts with helping my teammates arsenic good and conscionable being a amended teammate. So, I deliberation that starts with leadership.” New offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko has taken notice of Jeanty’s emerging voice. “I deliberation he’s taking a enactment role, and I emotion to spot that from him,” Janocko said. “Love to spot him conscionable travel with that enthusiasm each day, truthful we’re excited for him and what helium brings. And conscionable support coaching each azygous rep, getting better, being precise deliberate connected what we’re asking him to bash each and each time truthful we tin physique connected his strengths to enactment him successful a presumption to beryllium successful.” Janocko’s scheme, which also features head coach Klint Kubiak, is expected to create more favorable situations for Jeanty in both the running and passing games. The coordinator plans to use Jeanty more extensively as a receiver after the rookie hauled in 55 catches for 346 yards and five touchdowns. “I consciousness similar I tin tally successful immoderate scheme, but this one’s particularly great,” Jeanty said. “Running the wide portion and truly attacking the defence and getting them moving and past hitting them with immoderate wrong portion and play action. So, everything goes unneurotic truly good and I’m conscionable ace excited to support getting amended astatine the tally scheme.” He believes the new offense will also improve his route‑running, a skill he worked on during the offseason. “I deliberation (this offense) is going to assistance a lot,” Jeanty said. “That was 1 happening I worked connected this offseason, conscionable getting amended astatine moving routes. In this offense, anybody tin beauteous overmuch bash immoderate route. So, the much I proceed to bash that, I deliberation the much it’ll assistance the squad retired and assistance america win.” Improved protection up front should further aid Jeanty’s development. Left tackle Kolton Miller is reporting to camp healthy, and the Raiders made interior offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum the highest‑paid player at his position in NFL history, signaling a commitment to bolstering the line. Linderbaum praised Jeanty’s work ethic and personality. “Ashton’s a amusive feline to beryllium around,” Linderbaum said. “Extremely hard worker. Another feline that conscionable wants to beryllium great. Really excited to beryllium capable to play with him. As an violative enactment unit, the tally crippled starts with america if we tin artifact the guys up front. And past having a peculiar (talent) backmost determination to person the large regular runs is going to beryllium truly invaluable and important.” Jeanty’s rapport extends beyond the offensive side of the ball. He was pleased when the team signed linebacker Quay Walker, whom he regards as one of the league’s top defenders. The two met during OTAs to exchange notes and better understand each other’s responsibilities. “He’s truthful young, fast, electric, powerful,” Walker said. “I haven’t truly gone up against him successful pads, but he’s truthful explosive, astute arsenic well. I effort to prime his brain, he’ll effort to prime mine.” Jeanty described the interaction as productive. “I deliberation he’s 1 of the champion linebackers successful the game,” Jeanty said. “I consciousness similar he’s a small underrated. With what he’s done, to larn from him, larn what he’s watching, what moving backs are doing, it lone helps my crippled to spot however I tin amended acceptable up runs and each types of things.” A step forward in Jeanty’s production would provide a significant boost to a Raiders squad that needs to run the ball effectively to achieve the success it hopes for this season.