Kubiak Confirms New SPLIT BACKFIELD Between Jeanty And Washington!

Okay, man, never a dull moment for Raider Nation as it comes out here. The Raiders hope Ashton Gentry's soft benching, which is what we were all calling it, by the way, serves as a wake-up call per ESPN's Dan Graziano. Gentry hasn't played well, while Washington has, and the Raiders hope it serves as a wake-up call. If it doesn't, they're content to distribute carries in Washington's favor moving forward as he offers a more explosive element in the run game right now. Now, look, obviously this story is about Ashton Gentry. It's about a sixth pick in a draft who is being outplayed by a rookie fourth rounder and all the people saying there's no way you draft someone like Gentry at six overall. Look, look. You could have your little moment, but as much as this is an Ashton Gentry story, I think it is equally or even more so a story not just about Ashton Gentry, but a story about the head coach of this football team and what he's willing to do to win in Klinkubiak. Just when I thought I was out, the Raiders pull me back in. A 38-point offensive showcase against the New York Jets. Jets aren't a great team, but coming up on the schedule is a great team. Maybe the most exciting game on the schedule because the former Oakland Raiders are heading to San Francisco. It's the Battle of the Bay. Now look, the 49ers. Are given an 80% chance to win this game on the Kalshi market. If you took the Raiders, you sprinkled 25 on there, you'd win $118.35. But I think the play here, the contract to purchase, is the 49ers not to cover. That nine and a half points that the market is being set at here because the Raiders have been the kings of the back door covering of the spread. So you have San Francisco 49ers to win by nine and a half. That's a lot of points. I think this is going to be a competitive game. So if you purchase the no contract and sprinkle 25 on there, it's $50.25. I think that's the responsible right purchasing of the contract in this game. Now look, if you're interested in checking out Kalshi, use code all aboard to instantly get 25 when you trade 25. And what makes Kalshi different and unique from your typical sports book is that With that traditional sports book, you're betting against the house. That's not what's happening with Kalshi. You are purchasing peer-to-peer, yes or no, contracts based off of the market that we set. You can do contracts for sports, politics, which is going on right now. It's election day. Movies, TV, entertainment, so much more. You want it? Kalshi's got it. Look, we have wanted a coach that puts his money where his mouth is. Ever since, I don't know, John Gruden the first time. And obviously, we would prefer if the people that we draft in the top 10 are able to beat out fourth round rookies. But multiple things can be true. The first thing is, Ashton Gentry has not played up to his potential. I think that's an inarguable fact. I also think for a young running back in the beginning of his career, The amount of help he had to figure out how to have success in this league in his first year was next to nothing. Horrible play calling in Chip Kelly, horrible offensive line, horrible quarterback play. All of those things are not going to be able to help you succeed in this league. He still broke Marcus Allen's rookie total yards record for running back for the Raiders. This year, the offensive line has gotten slightly better, but still isn't great. The quarterback play has been awesome. The coaching is trying to put Ashton Gentry in in a specific situation to succeed. And sometimes he is impacting the game. Most of the time, it's with the ball in his hands as a receiver. Another thing that can be true is that Mike Washington is better than a fourth-round rookie. When we took him in the fourth round, he was the consensus. Third running back in the draft. It was Jeremiah Love, it was Jadarian Price, and it was Mike Washington. And so far this season, of those three, who's the best? Now, Mike Washington hasn't done a ton, but last week he showed an ability to have the vision that Ashton Gentry has not had with a subpar offensive line. And he's also been able to stay on the field. Jeremiah Love injured, Jadarian Price injured. There's a world in which we've gotten lucky and we hit on this running back and it doesn't matter that we missed on Ashton Gentry, Max Crosby, and Cleveland Furl. This is way too early and a Gentry wake-up call this soon can only help someone like him who still had a major impact in us winning this game against the Jets. He had a huge catch as the heavens opened behind me. He had a huge catch. In that game. And he was incredible in pass pro. He is clearly an impactful player. But going forward, this seems to be more of a true two-headed monster than we even initially thought. And what is beautiful about that is, you know, I understand wanting Gentry so badly to succeed that you give him opportunity after opportunity. But this is a business. And we got to win games. And what gives us the best chance to win? What gives us the best chance to win is Mike Washington in the game, in running situations, mixing in a little play action, and Ashton Gentry in the game and passing situations. I've seen people call Gentry a third down running back. That's another term for a pass down running back. If you're going to pass the ball on first and 10, have Gentry in the game. Obviously, you need to mix all that up. But what did we see? In the Jets game, because we had the threat of the run with Mike Washington, which again, people saying he wasn't good, didn't watch the game. The play action opened up tremendously. Trey Tucker was still wide open on a lot of plays that Kirk didn't get him the ball to. Jalen Naylor started to have an impact on this game. And a true split backfield can only open up this offense even more. So this isn't me choosing to see the positive of Ashton Gentry's shortcomings. He needs to wake up, and he's got the rest of the year to do so because Clint Kubiak has shown a proclivity to play the best guy. It don't matter if you're a sixth rounder, if you're a first rounder, if you're the sixth pick in the draft, if you were drafted 140, wherever Mike Washington was. And that's what I love about this staff and this Raiders team so far is that if something's not working, okay, it's time to change it. And hopefully this shows Ashton Gentry that just because you were a top 10 pick doesn't mean anything. You need to be able to play. And if you don't have the ability to be as good as Mike Washington, then Mike Washington is going to start. If JPJ isn't up to snuff at being right guard, then it's going to be Caleb. And if it's not Caleb, then it's going to be Trey Zune. If Kirk Cousins starts throwing picks, Mendoza will be in the game. Full stop. Which is why I said in the beginning, this is not just an Ashton Gentry story. It is a Clint Kubiak story as well. Which is what we're going to get into with the presser. Hey, man. Also, a lot of subscribers the last few days. Posting some shorts, posting some long form. Hit that sub button. We're trying to get to 17,000. We're getting closer. Talk to me, Clint. Darian Porter did not practice, and I'll take any questions. Talk about being in the hunt. You got some circle tracks on, you see almost a make or break player after that I think every week's that way. If you treat it that way, then you'll have success throughout the season. So we just keep the blinders on and focus on one opponent at a time. I like that answer. That's the right answer. I will say, though, these next three games, it's make or break. Your dad coaching with Mike, is there a first memory you have with Kyle watching your dad coach together in Denver? Not a first one, no. Just really fortunate to grow up in that environment. Yeah, very. I didn't know at the time, but I got to be exposed to a lot of football at a young age, and I'm very grateful for that, myself and my brothers. Clay Kubiak, right? All right. Anything? Yeah, I think I got to work with him side-by-side for an entire year. And, you know. We were in college together, and then we went our separate ways and got married. It was just so great reconnecting with him and seeing the type of husband that he was and seeing how hard he worked and how smart he was. Things I already knew, but when you're kind of in the fire with your brother every day, it definitely builds a closer bond. What does the family group text look like this week? We'll My dad doesn't really know. I don't care about any of this. Text very well. Um. No, I think we kind of avoid each other. See you. be Talk after the game. What did you take out of that year? right How did that help you in your coaching journey with the 49ers? Yeah, it was a very impactful season. Ask him about Genting. That organization. And, you know, I could go on for a long time how impactful it was back. and all of them in good ways. We've talked a lot about the last couple weeks, about the start of the second half. I know you guys are changing things up to get focused on them. Play better. With the way you guys were able to come out of the locker room this past week. We could run the ball. Yes, players executed. You know, there's things you focus on every week, and sometimes you hit them and sometimes you don't. But I thought our guys were very intentional about that phase of the game, and obviously it has to continue. Do you still believe Ashton has that potential to at some point become that bell cow running back, someone who can take 25 plus carries a game? Oh, absolutely, yeah. Ashton's a young player. And by the way, I do think before the season's out, he will have other games like that where he's going to get the ball 25 times. It's just right now, it's not working, so we've got to figure out something to do. He has a really bright future ahead, and I'm so glad that we have him. I'm so glad we have him and all these young players on our roster that are continuing to grow, and it's our job as coaches to develop them. Talk about healthy competition. How have you seen in the running back room competition elevate that room? Yeah, it's always the best motivator. You know, coaching takes you so far, but, you know, when you're competing for reps, you know, it definitely adds a new gear to your giddy-up in practice. Do you see the split being week to week between them? I do, I do, yes. What do you remember? Feed the hot hand. Whoever is better is going to get the rock. That just is what it is. That's how the NFL should be. What about coaching against the Raiders when they were in Oakland and also seeing your dad go up against them? Yes, I remember definitely just overall with the Raiders. Every time that being in Denver. You know, everybody's walking around with Raider Hater shirts on. The town has a buzz to it. I remember one specific game. I think it was in the snow, but, you know, Jerry Rice and Tim Brown and just, you know, it's a young kid just getting a watch on the sideline. Those are your heroes, you know. And, you know, and, um, Just how, you know, I just kind of remember the snow falling down in the stadium and watching those guys run on the field. And Tim Brown's got his finger tape rolled up. And, you know, that week in my game, I'm rolling up my fingers. You know, Tim Brown doesn't need any gloves, neither do I. So that really stands out. And I don't remember the other question. Well, just about them in Oakland and going back to the Bay Area this week. Yeah, it's a huge rivalry. I hope some fans show up. I know both organizations for a long time have gone against each other. It's a, you know. Times change, and they're in Santa Clara, and we're here in Vegas, and it's just a blessing to be a part of that rivalry moving forward. You mentioned after the game Sunday, the goal now is to not rely on third and fourth down. How important is that this week against San Francisco? Especially fourth down. Yeah, they're one of the best in the league. Extremely well coached, great talent, and a major challenge for our entire team. How much does your understanding of what they want to do offensively help you maybe collaborate with Rob this week? Oh, I hope that helps. Yeah, you have familiarity, but, you know, it's the players' game on Sunday. So we've got to get our players ready to do what they do best so they can play at a high level on Sunday. Jermont got his first real extended look on Sunday. With Darian being out for today, how do you want Jermont to really focus on this season practice with the possibilities? Just be aggressive. Yeah, I think that focus hasn't changed, whether he was getting no reps. You're going to get beat, be aggressive. Any more, it's, you know, just... Getting better at your position and being really intentional about your individual and being a factor on special teams. Being great with your eyes and your keys and your technique. And those are things that make Joe Woods such a special coach. And we're so happy to have Joe. And those DBs are so happy to have him as a mentor and as a coach. A guy with so much experience that helps him play. Do you think Darian's injury would be extended? I think it's just we're taking it day to day. Okay, good. He's making progress. I talked a lot about Rob Leonard and your confidence in him and his staff. Go ahead. Last week he said that him and his players, he tells them every day that they're working and playing for their jobs. What does that say about him in your eyes? With you, Robbie, you literally are. He sees it that way. Well, I think if you've worked in the NFL long enough, then that's the reality of our business. You know, it's a production business. It's the most competitive industry that I know of. And, you know, any time that you start to feel comfortable, then you will be quickly humbled. And so whether you're having success or you're working to get better, if your mindset stays the same and you continue to push and push through the hard times, then you come out on the other end. So that's the NFL. NFL brings adversity. Makes you answer to it every day. You saw Fernando getting some warm-up reps with the first team O-line in Ashton. Is that just part of his continued development and trying to get him ready for when it's time? Interesting. It is, yes. And how ready do you feel he is right now in his development? Good question. You know, I think when you are the backup quarterback and you don't get a ton of reps, I think we all find out together on Sunday how ready he is. So we put him through as much stress as we can. Coach Sullivan does a phenomenal job. When his time's called, whether. Whether he gets three more years of reps or he gets one more day of reps, he has to do it. Two interesting things I want to hit on right there. This plan for them with Mendoza really has worked out perfectly because we're still competing and he can watch someone like Kirk Cousins operate like a functional offense. And I think in their perfect world, the bye week was always the earliest they'd like to see him. And if we go 0-3 in these next three games, these games being the 49ers, the Seahawks, and the Broncos, Then the bye week comes, and then it's Tennessee. You throw them in there at 4-7. If we go one and two, it's a question, depending on how it looks. If we go two and one or better, you probably won't see him the rest of the year. So it's kind of worked out perfectly. Carson Johnson working on left guard two today at practice. How much are you guys trying to impact him, or not impact him, have him impact the O-line in different position groups than maybe you've seen him play this year? Yeah, you know, this time of year, not everybody takes every rep. That's part of the development plan for everybody. You know, we got a lot of... Veteran guys with lots of snaps on their bodies and the young guys and the guys behind them, they get opportunities to get more reps, so it's good. Do you see JPJ maybe drifting to the other side of the line and seeing what he can do there? He can play both sides. He can play center. He has a ton of value to us. Probably the greatest value is him as a teammate. Energy that he brings, genuine. That makes me think they're not going to trade him. Love that he has for his teammates in the game. Really elevates the whole offense. Dylan won a special team player of the week in the AFC this week. It ain't right. What do you see out of him in terms of just the trustworthiness that he's built? What a long way Dylan Lauby has come from a guy that immediately fumbled the first chance he had to being like a legitimate impact player in this league. Shout out to Dylan Lauby. And he said he appreciated the opportunity you guys gave him, the trust that you showed in him after a couple tough years here. So what has he proven to you? Yeah, well... I think that he earned it. He earned his opportunities. He made the most of his opportunities. And I think, like I said the other day, now the expectations are that. They're higher, and now you've got to work twice as hard to exceed expectations. I love that. You better kick it to him. We're going to get the ball at the 35, whatever it is. I love it. He said he wanted to be the best special teams player in the league. Have you seen his impact, not only on the kick return, but in other areas of the special teams as well? Yeah, he made a huge tackle in the game. Very coachable. We'll get out of here. Coach Jody and Marquise and Tim, those guys do a phenomenal job with our special teams. And Dylan's one guy that has really benefited from their coaching, and we've benefited from his extreme work ethic and attention to detail. With the trade deadline coming up next week, what are your conversations like with John and what's best for the team? They're ongoing. Yeah, they're constant at all hours of the day, whether it's up against the trade line deadline or not. So we're always talking. Okay, so that's a perfect place to end it. Now, I was going to talk a little bit about JPJ Left Guard here, but they already kind of, they did that. I didn't know they were going to talk about it. It wasn't as interesting to me as I thought. I'm sorry, I'm not. What is interesting is that the Raiders released Cody White, and activated Carter running from injury reserve. Excuse me, I'm burping. Now, on the surface, you might think, okay, who cares? But Austin kind of dives a little bit deeper here, and I want to talk about this. Raiders released wide receiver, has been key contributor. It hasn't been a good season for the Las Vegas wide receivers. I don't wholly agree with that. And Week 8 was their worst game of the season despite scoring... Who cares? Who cares if we score 38 points? Okay. He had three touchdowns and three first games, but hasn't been more than one catch. Okay, so could this be good news for Dante Thornton Jr.? After holding off a decision as long as possible, the Raiders finally activated second-year wide receiver Dante Thornton Jr. to the active roster after he started the year on injury reserve. However, the Raiders still weren't quite ready for him to play as he was inactive against the Jets. He's healthy right now, and head coach made it clear that Thornton isn't going to play until he can take away a spot on the depth chart from another player. It appears White may have been that player. I mean, now they have activated Carter Runyon, obviously. So, what's also interesting is blah, blah, blah. Okay, here's my take on this. They activated Carter Runyon from IR. That doesn't mean he's also going to be active, right? Because Dante ended up being inactive. They're both on the 53, not on the 53, you know, yada, yada, yada. Who's going to be active? Is it Dante? Is it Carter? Is it a spot for somebody else that they're going to trade for? When Kubiak mentioned he's talking with Spytek all the time about how to make this team better, how to make this team, you know, younger, how to make this team older, how to get an impact player at this position or that position. The two players I would keep an eye on, one getting traded is JPJ. He said he has tremendous value to us, even as a teammate. I agree with that. We'll see. And then Brian Thomas Jr., I do think is going to be traded. I would not be surprised if it was us. It's not going to be Kansas City. Seattle could use another wideout, but they already traded for Quentin Nelson. I feel like we are a good fit for somebody like him. Maybe it's the 49ers. They traded for DeForest Buckner. I don't know. Only time will tell. But just keep an eye on that. I don't have any sources. I would like to. Hey, if you know anybody, if you are a source, That could be a source for me. I'm calling out to the ether. I would like a source. Maybe you're in my Discord. Hit me up in the Discord, which you should be joining, which is completely free. Also, shout out to my $5 and $10 patrons and YouTube members. If you want to become one of these beautiful people, you can click the big join button down below or click the link in the description. Hit that like button. Comment away. 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