Ashton Jeanty stance: Why Raiders OC Chip Kelly wants rookie RB to alter pre-snap posture

No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty is a triple threat as an elite runner, blocker and pass catcher. The Raiders want him to stand in a triple-threat position when he takes the field next season.

Jeanty said in an interview with Kay Adams during the NFLPA Rookie Premiere event that Las Vegas offensive coordinator Chip Kelly told him to change his stance in the backfield to resemble more of a basketball player. Jeanty became known for his upright stance last season at Boise State, when he finished second in Heisman voting.

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The Raiders are hoping the adjustment can help Jeanty make an impact right away. He rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in 14 games with the Broncos last season, but the NFL game is a whole different level of speed and physicality.

Here's what to know about Ashton Jeanty's stance.

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Ashton Jeanty stance

During the conversation with Adams this past weekend, Jeanty discussed a piece of advice Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly gave him regarding his stance in the backfield.

Here's EXACTLY how Chip Kelly got Ashton Jeanty to change his pre-snap stance. 😂 🏀 #Raiders @AshtonJeanty2 @PaniniAmerica pic.twitter.com/VAqaA5sPpV

"Chip Kelly comes up to me the first day of rookie mini-camp. He was like, ‘Have you ever played basketball?’ Yeah, I’ve played basketball. I can dunk, all that. He was like, ‘Show me how you can guard me?’ He’s holding the ball and then he’s like, ‘That’s exactly why you’ve got to be down in your running back stance,’" Jeanty said.

The more upright stance seemed to work for Jeanty last season, when he was named a first-team All-American and won the Maxwell Award as the most outstanding college football player of the year. His pre-snap posture was often compared to Michael Myers, and he dressed up as the iconic movie killer for an Instagram post last year.

Jeanty has said the upright stance allows him to relax before a burst of speed when the ball is snapped, and he indicated he's going to try to convince Kelly to let him go back to it at some point this season.

"He won for now. I’m going to try and persuade him one day," Jeanty said. "I’ve got to earn my stripes, make some plays first. But I don’t think it’s going to be the end.”

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