East Oregonian : E.O., August 08, 2019, Page 8, Image 8

E AST O REGONIAN
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2019
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A8
Seahawks’ Barkevious Mingo back at defensive end
By TIM BOOTH
Associated Press
RENTON, Wash. — When
Barkevious Mingo walks through
the Seattle Seahawks’ headquarters
on his way to team meetings, he no
longer even thinks about joining the
linebackers.
He’s now all about being
a defensive end, the position
where the former fi rst-round pick
starred in college.
“I get to go back to what I did in
college. That’s kind of what got me
here in the NFL. Being able to do
this again, I’m enjoying the oppor-
tunity,” Mingo said.
The Seahawks will get their fi rst
look at Mingo at the position when
they open their preseason schedule
hosting Denver on Thursday night.
While Mingo is in favor of making
the switch to the LEO position —
the defensive end primarily respon-
sible for rushing the quarterback
— his move also highlights issues
facing the Seahawks on the defen-
sive line, and in particular in the
pass rush.
Frank Clark, who led Seattle
in sacks last season, was traded to
Kansas City. Jarran Reed, second on
the team in sacks, will miss the fi rst
six games after being suspended
by the league. Ezekiel Ansah, the
Seahawks’ biggest free agent sign-
ing, has yet to participate in a full
practice while recovering from off-
season shoulder surgery, though he
may be ready for Week 1.
Quinton Jefferson and Jacob
Martin each had three sacks last
season and are the leading play-
ers in that category who could be
on the fi eld for the opener against
Cincinnati.
So yes, the pass rush is a major
concern and Mingo is being asked
to be part of the solution.
“We know he can rush. We want
to see if we can make him a really
good rusher that can be a factor,”
coach Pete Carroll said. “He’s get-
ting a great shot at it.”
When Mingo signed with Seattle
before last season, it was primarily
to be a strongside linebacker play-
ing on the line of scrimmage. He
ended up being a signifi cant con-
tributor, starting a career-best 14
games and recording 48 tackles. He
was also a core player on special
See Mingo, Page A9
MLB
Seattle
San Diego
3
2
Mariners
snap 5-game
skid with
3-2 victory
over Padres
Broussard’s luck
is finally changing
By TIM BOOTH
Associated Press
SEATTLE — The rookie sea-
son for Seattle’s Yusei Kikuchi
and the transition from pitching in
Japan to pitching in the majors has
proved to be a challenge.
At times Kikuchi has looked
dominant. At times he’s looked
overwhelmed. But throughout the
season, Kikuchi has worked at
making the adjustments needed to
eventually be successful.
Kikuchi threw fi ve strong
innings, Mallex Smith doubled
leading off the eighth and scored
when Daniel Vogelbach beat out
a potential inning-ending double
play, and the Mariners snapped a
fi ve-game losing streak with a 3-2
victory over the San Diego Padres
on Wednesday.
“I thought Yusei was outstand-
ing today in the fact he went into
the game trying to make an adjust-
ment with his mechanics and he
did,” Seattle manager Scott Ser-
vais said. “And he got some results.
The ball had life on it today. That
was the difference.”
Kikuchi lasted only fi ve, but the
start as a whole will be viewed as
an improvement. Kikuchi struck
out eight, his most since strik-
ing out a season-high 10 in early
May against Cleveland. Instead
of watching his start devolve after
Fernando Tatis Jr. homered lead-
ing off the game, the left-hander
scattered just three more hits.
Kikuchi’s fi nal inning may
have been his best. After giving up
a leadoff single to Tatis, Kikuchi
struck out Wil Myers for the third
time, threw a fastball past Manny
Machado for strike three and got
Eric Hosmer looking to end his
outing.
Much of the success was due to
an adjustment Kikuchi made after
watching video of his last start.
His arm motion was getting too
long, throwing off the timing of
Staff photo by Ben Lonergan
Taylor Broussard of Estherwood, La., competes in the bareback riding event as cowboys look on from the chutes during
opening night of the Farm-City Pro Rodeo.
Louisiana cowboy has
overcome injuries, and
is now on the cusp of
his fi rst NFR
By BRETT KANE
and ANNIE FOWLER
East Oregonian
H
ERMISTON — Taylor
Broussard has been compet-
ing in the PRCA for eight
years, but it hasn’t been until
recently that he’s had much luck.
The Louisiana cowboy, who sits 14th
in the world standings, turned in a score
of 83 on Wednesday night in the bare-
back riding to open the Farm-City Pro
Rodeo.
His ride came on the back of Xplo-
Staff photo by Ben Lonergan
See Rodeo, Page A9
Rhen Richard of Roosevelt, Utah, ropes a calf during the tie-down roping compe-
tition Wednesday night at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston.
See Mariners, Page A9
SPORTS SHORTS
In video, Kaepernick says he’s ‘still ready’ to return
Associated Press
Colin Kaepernick says he’s
“still ready” to return to the
NFL, even though he is set to
enter his third season out of the
league.
In a video posted Wednes-
day on social media, the 31-year-
old Kaepernick is shown work-
ing out in a gym. He says in the
video: “5 a.m. 5 days a week. For
3 years. Still Ready.”
Kaepernick, then with the San
Francisco 49ers, helped start a
wave of protests about social and
racial injustice in 2016 by kneel-
ing during the national anthem at
games.
The protests slowed down last
season as the NFL made contri-
butions to organizations chosen
by players and promised more
attention to social justice issues.
While he has been away from
the playing fi eld, the former quar-
terback has become an advocate
for social and racial justice.
The NFL in February settled
a collusion grievance Kaeper-
nick and cornerback Eric Reid
fi led against the league. Reid,
who played 13 games last sea-
son for the Panthers, signed a
three-year contract with Caro-
lina in February.
In this Oct. 11, 2018, fi le
photo, former NFL football
quarterback Colin Kaeper-
nick applauds while seat-
ed on stage during W.E.B.
Du Bois Medal ceremonies
at Harvard University in
Cambridge, Mass.
AP Photo/Steven Senne, File