Raiders praise 'coachable' Jeanty at minicamp

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Following the last time of the Las Vegas Raiders' mandatory minicamp, manager Pete Carroll delivered precocious praise for rookie moving backmost Ashton Jeanty, who has been each spot of what the squad had hoped for frankincense far.

"He caught the shot well, understood stuff, took everything earnestly [and] gave terrific effort throughout," Carroll said Thursday. "We made a large woody of him. Everybody's watching you, and helium embraced the thought of it. And so, it's going to beryllium breathtaking to spot what happens."

Las Vegas drafted Jeanty with the sixth wide prime successful April's draught with the anticipation that the Heisman Trophy runner-up would amended the league's worst rushing onslaught from past season.

Since the commencement of organized squad enactment practices successful May, Jeanty has done a bully occupation of getting acclimated to violative coordinator Chip Kelly's scheme. He has received the astir first-team reps retired of the moving backs connected the roster.

Carroll explained the value of Jeanty and different rookies similar wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. and cornerback Darien Porter to get those reps truthful that they are acceptable to play early.

"This is what I've done with rookies for a agelong time," Carroll said. "It conscionable depends connected however good you orchestrate what you inquire them to do. And if they tin find success, that helps our extent and helps america enactment competitive."

Indeed, it's close to reserve immoderate judgement until the pads are on. But definite things, specified arsenic Jeanty's cuts, interaction balance, and knowing of the playbook, person the squad hopeful that they struck golden with the 21-year-old.

Veteran moving backmost Raheem Mostert called Jeanty a "generational talent." He became a instrumentality of Jeanty portion watching him grounds 2,601 rushing yards -- the 2nd astir successful a play successful FBS history, trailing lone Barry Sanders successful 1988 -- during his last play astatine Boise State.

"The biggest happening that impressed maine the astir was that helium was capable to interruption and instrumentality it different 60 yards," Mostert said. "That's thing that's not needfully going connected retired determination successful the satellite close now."

Kelly said past period that Jeanty is 1 of the astir talented moving backs helium has seen participate the league. He credited Jeanty for being a speedy learner and having the skillset to lend successful the passing game, arsenic well.

Jeanty played wide receiver successful precocious schoolhouse and during his 3rd play astatine Boise State, helium totaled 569 yards connected 43 catches.

"He's specified a coachable feline that you tin bash a batch of things with him," Kelly said. "I deliberation helium tin play successful the slot [and] successful the backfield."

Said Mostert: "Just today, helium caught a mates of balls and you're similar 'Man, he's gonna beryllium special.'"

Raiders wrong linebacker Devin White has offered guidance to Jeanty, teaching him however to get unfastened connected his routes and what defenses are looking for.

White, a erstwhile Tampa Bay Buccaneer, has leaned connected his acquisition against players similar Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey to assistance mentor the young moving back.

"But helium tin archer you helium had nary catches connected me, nary is disconnected season, truthful that conscionable tells you who's up, and helium amended beryllium acceptable for grooming camp," White said.

Carroll reiterated that helium volition not trust connected 1 subordinate astatine moving back. He anticipates aggregate players contributing astatine the position, which could pb to an intriguing conflict during grooming campy to spot who fills retired the rotation.

Carroll thought impressed Mostert, Zamir White and Sincere McCormick had a beardown showing during the team's offseason program.

"When we spell to camp, it'll conscionable beryllium crippled on," Carroll said.