I see the addition of Klint Kubiak as a big plus for Ashton Jeanty. Kubiak helped to juice up Seattle’s running back. It was clear that was going to happen in the preseason.
But the Las Vegas running game was pretty putrid last year. Last in rushing yards, with only 5 rushing touchdowns all year.
I think this is more on the offensive line than on Jeanty. It’s a lesser group, and it was plagued by injuries last year, with Kolton Miller playing in only four games and Jackson Powers-Johnson missing the second half of the season.
Specifically, I remember the Thursday night game at Denver. Jeanty was running just fine, then Powers-Johnson went out with an injury and everything fell apart.
I think there’s still a solid chance Jeanty winds up being an above-average tailback. It doesn’t look like he’s one of those elite-type backs who can do it on his own, regardless of who’s out there with him, but give him decent holes, and I think he’ll be fine.
But that rookie year was pretty rough. I just saw the short-yardage totals go by – success rate when the team needs 1 yard (be it at the goal-line, or on a third-and-one or fourth-and-one play). Jeanty was successful on only 7 of his 19 carries in such situations last year.
In the last five years, 46 other running backs have averaged at least one such carry per game in a season. All but one of those backs converted at least half of those money carries.
| 'AND ONE' RUSHING (2021-25) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | "Good" | Att | Pct |
| 2022 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 19 | 20 | 95.0% |
| 2022 | James Conner, Ariz. | 16 | 18 | 88.9% |
| 2025 | Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 35 | 41 | 85.4% |
| 2025 | Jonathan Taylor, Ind. | 19 | 23 | 82.6% |
| 2024 | Kyren Williams, LAR | 19 | 23 | 82.6% |
| 2023 | Gus Edwards, Balt. | 14 | 17 | 82.4% |
| 2022 | Brian Robinson, Was. | 16 | 20 | 80.0% |
| 2023 | Christian McCaffrey, S.F. | 15 | 19 | 78.9% |
| 2025 | Javonte Williams, Dall. | 14 | 18 | 77.8% |
| 2021 | Jamaal Williams, Det. | 14 | 18 | 77.8% |
| 2021 | Antonio Gibson, Was. | 17 | 22 | 77.3% |
| 2021 | Derrick Henry, Ten. | 13 | 17 | 76.5% |
| 2024 | Bijan Robinson, Atl. | 16 | 21 | 76.2% |
| 2024 | Derrick Henry, Balt. | 16 | 21 | 76.2% |
| 2024 | Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 15 | 20 | 75.0% |
| 2021 | James Conner, Ari. | 24 | 32 | 75.0% |
| 2023 | Isiah Pacheco, K.C. | 13 | 18 | 72.2% |
| 2021 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 13 | 18 | 72.2% |
| 2021 | Jonathan Taylor, Ind. | 20 | 28 | 71.4% |
| 2025 | Christian McCaffrey, S.F. | 12 | 17 | 70.6% |
| 2022 | Josh Jacobs, L.V. | 12 | 17 | 70.6% |
| 2022 | Austin Ekeler, LAC | 12 | 17 | 70.6% |
| 2021 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 12 | 17 | 70.6% |
| 2021 | Sony Michel, LAR | 12 | 17 | 70.6% |
| 2023 | Chuba Hubbard, Car. | 16 | 23 | 69.6% |
| 2022 | Jamaal Williams, Det. | 20 | 29 | 69.0% |
| 2025 | Kyren Williams, LAR | 15 | 22 | 68.2% |
| 2024 | Jonathan Taylor, Ind. | 17 | 25 | 68.0% |
| 2025 | Tyler Allgeier, Atl. | 12 | 18 | 66.7% |
| 2024 | Josh Jacobs, G.B. | 12 | 18 | 66.7% |
| 2023 | Rachaad White, T.B. | 12 | 18 | 66.7% |
| 2021 | Darrel Williams, K.C. | 12 | 18 | 66.7% |
| 2025 | Quinshon Judkins, Cle. | 13 | 20 | 65.0% |
| 2024 | Chuba Hubbard, Car. | 13 | 20 | 65.0% |
| 2022 | Christian McCaffrey, 2tms | 13 | 20 | 65.0% |
| 2021 | Najee Harris, Pitt. | 13 | 20 | 65.0% |
| 2024 | Brian Robinson, Was. | 13 | 21 | 61.9% |
| 2024 | David Montgomery, Det. | 12 | 20 | 60.0% |
| 2024 | James Conner, Ari. | 10 | 17 | 58.8% |
| 2025 | Derrick Henry, Balt. | 11 | 19 | 57.9% |
| 2022 | Leonard Fournette, T.B. | 11 | 19 | 57.9% |
| 2025 | Woody Marks, Hou. | 10 | 18 | 55.6% |
| 2025 | Josh Jacobs, G.B. | 11 | 21 | 52.4% |
| 2023 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 11 | 22 | 50.0% |
| 2023 | Austin Ekeler, LAC | 9 | 18 | 50.0% |
| 2023 | Travis Etienne, Jac. | 9 | 19 | 47.4% |
| 2025 | Ashton Jeanty, L.V. | 7 | 19 | 36.8% |
—Ian Allan
