NFL rookies get a lot of important lessons in their first year, and one of the first is to correct some of their collegiate habits that don’t fit when they play on Sunday. That even happened to Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty with his stance, despite his status as a top ten pick.
But Jeanty is returning to some of his old ways. He’s resurrecting what he calls his “Halloween” stance in the backfield, standing straight up with his hands at his side in a posture some have compared to that of serial slaughterer Michael Myers in the infamous “Halloween” movies.
“I love it,” said coach Pete Carroll, in an ESPN story written by Ryan McFadden, doubtless referring as much to Jeanty’s breakout performance against the Chicago Bears last Sunday. Jeanty rushed for 138 yards and scored three touchdowns against the Bears, one on the ground and two in the air.
Ironically, it was new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly who made Jeanty change his college ways.
"It's a bent knee game," offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said in May. "... In any athletic sport you're playing, you've got to bend your knees. And if you've got to run a flat route on Fred Warner, you'd better be in a position to run, because that dude can fly. So, all we're trying to do is put guys in positions to make plays."
But making those plays is also about being comfortable, and Jeanty wasn’t. Given how unproductive he was in the Raiders first two games, there certainly wasn’t any harm in allowing him to make the switch.
"That's how I naturally feel good standing in the backfield. So, that's how I'm going to play," Jeanty said.
It will take a lot more than just a comfortable stance for Jeanty to have a similar game agains the Indianapolis Colts, however. Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller was placed on IR yesterday after an MRI showed a hairline fracture of his ankle, which means Jeanty will be rushing behind a reconfigured line.
It’s not a comfortable situation by any means, but this is where the Raiders are. They’re stuck in the basement of the AFC West at 1-3, and no one thinks they’re going to escape any time soon if they lose this week. Jeanty will play a pivotal role regardless, and at least he’s got some momentum coming into this important game.