Aside from Geno Smith’s poor performance, the most maddening thing from the Las Vegas Raiders’ Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers was how the team used Ashton Jeanty.
For example: after Jeanty began finding his rhythm in the second quarter, he was inexplicably not utilized on the team’s two-minute drive before halftime.
Instead, the Raiders deployed Dylan Laube, who also saw significant reps late in the fourth quarter when Las Vegas was trying to mount a comeback. We also saw the Raiders sub Zamir White in far too much in place of Jeanty on certain drives.
When asked about Las Vegas’ usage of the No. 6 overall pick after the game, head coach Pete Carroll simply said the team is “breaking him in.”
Carroll went on to add that “we’re gonna have to run the ball more effectively,” yet the Raiders kept subbing out their best back.
Bear in mind, the Raiders were “breaking him in” one week after giving Jeanty 21 touches in the season-opener. Safe to say, they already did that in Week 1.
The fact of the matter is, the No. 6 overall pick needs to be more involved in the most important situations in the game, especially when the offense struggles as much as it did on Monday night.
You don’t use the kind of high pick Las Vegas did on Jeanty to sub him out in key spots for a former sixth-round pick (Laube) and a failed former fourth-round pick (White).
On the bright side, Jeanty did look more comfortable with the reps he did get.
Granted, he only had 43 yards on 11 carries, but he also showed great power and vision, and he even displayed impressive jump cuts and a nice spin move.
Now, if only he can get the ball more.
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