Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was literally defensive on Thursday. A day after HC Pete Carroll alluded to the fact that the play-calling required a solemn reconsideration, Kelly came forward to make things clear: “That is what our game plan is every game.” But words are no use where the scoreboard says no.

The Raiders are 1-4 with a ranking of 30th in the five games, with points per game (16.6). Their QB, Geno Smith, is their $75 million investment and leads the league with nine interceptions. The 34-year-old’s latest two-pick outing against the Colts summed it all up. And while some might think it was just a little jab by Carroll, today, a CBS reporter, Hailey Sutton, caught up with former Raiders CEO Amy Trask, who didn’t hesitate to echo Carroll’s frustration during a CBS Sports segment.

“Well, I’m going to share that assessment with you, but I’m going to segue into this since you raised the Raiders right after we discussed special teams, and I’m going to revert to the eight-year-old I often am. When we drafted Sebastian Janikowski, oh boy oh boy, did we get crap for that. Special teams matter. Onto the Raiders and your question.”

Carroll’s vision is simple. Equalize the offense, cushion Geno Smith, and develop around rookie Ashton Jeanty, who demonstrated genius during Week 4 by totaling 138 yards and a touchdown. However, as the Raiders were losing early in Week 5, Kelly gave up on the run almost immediately; another blowout loss (40-6 vs. the Colts) followed.

Trask then turned to the very core of the matter. Coaching decisions that make no sense. “I love what Pete Carroll said last week. He said, ‘We have to run the ball more.’ And he’s right. You drafted Ashton Jeanty with the sixth pick in the draft. He’s a spectacular running back. And yet the first thing Chip Kelly did was say, ‘I want to change your stance.’ Well, wait a minute. He was phenomenal in college. That’s why you drafted him, and now you’re going to tell him to change what he does?”

The Boise State product arrived in Las Vegas as one of the most decorated prospects in recent memory. In 2024, he was a First-Team Associated Press All-American, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, and swept the nation’s top honors with the Doak Walker Award (best running back) and the Maxwell Award (player of the year).

Hailey wasn’t done. “Well, guess what? Ashton changed his stance back. I love that Peter said he loved that Ashton reverted to his college stance, and he’s gotten better since then. So, I don’t know what the heck Chip Kelly was thinking, but why would you draft someone who is so good at what he does and then immediately tell him to change what he does?”

To Trask, the numbers speak. The Raiders have given up the fifth-most sacks in the league. “A running game can be a quarterback’s dearest friend,” she added. “But Pete’s right—run the damn ball.”

Without Brock Bowers and a young, inexperienced receiver group, the Raiders’ offense looks disjointed.

Pete Carroll grows impatient as Chip Kelly’s offense falters

Chip Kelly was hired to modernize Las Vegas’ offense after helping Ohio State win a national championship. However, his NFL return has been anything but smooth. Carroll handpicked him to join the Raiders staff. On paper, it was a perfect reunion of veteran minds.

Kelly himself admitted earlier this year, “We’ve evolved … going from five-wides, fast, no-huddle, to getting in a huddle and playing with 12 personnel. You still get the same points when you get the ball across the goal line—whether you run it or throw it.” The problem? The Raiders aren’t getting there at all.

In reality, Carroll now sounds increasingly frustrated with his offensive coordinator, just a month into their first season working together. Critics around the league, including ESPN’s Dan Graziano. He questioned whether Kelly’s scheme “creates enough advantages to overcome the Raiders’ personnel deficiencies.”

 The Raiders have relinquished the fifth-highest sacks in the league. The ex-Eagles and 49ers head coach was regarded as one of the most progressive offensive coaches in football, and he introduced his up-tempo philosophy to the NFL. However, his reputation declined after a couple of lackluster seasons.

And now even Amy Trask is publicly supporting him, meaning that patience with the way Chip Kelly is going is wearing thin in Las Vegas.