Tag: John Ursua

Why Washington’s Aaron Fuller could make Seahawks roster

The Seattle Seahawks love their undersized, UDFA receivers, and Aaron Fuller has a little Jermaine Kearse and a lot of Doug Baldwin in him.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck in the past, going all the way back to Dave Krieg, and including Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin and more recently, defensive tackle Poona Ford.

Speaking of Kearse, the Seahawks are hoping another undrafted receiver out of the University of Washington, Aaron Fuller, will do enough during training camp to earn a spot on the team’s roster in 2020.

While Kearse is the obvious comparison thanks to their alma mater, Fuller actually drew a lot of comparisons to Baldwin, Seattle’s other prominent undrafted free agent receiver.

Baldwin was an unassuming, undersized slot receiver out ot Stanford who Seattle signed in 2011. He went on to haul in 493 receptions for 6,563 yards and 49 touchdowns in eight seasons with the Seahawks, retiring after the 2018 season after suffering a shoulder injury the previous year.

Fuller has some big shoes to fill that role, but at five-foot-ten and 190 pounds, and with excellent production in college and some of the best route-running skills in the NCAA coming out of UW, there’s plenty of reason for optimism.

Seattle already has their own mini-Baldwin on the roster, however, after using a seventh round pick to select John Ursua in 2019.

Ursua and Fuller are two of a handful of receivers competing for one of the final spots on Seattle’s 53-man roster, a list that includes David Moore, Penny Hart, Cody Thompson, Freddie Swain, and Seth Dawkins.

With Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Phillip Dorsett all seemingly locked into the top three receiving roles, there’s little room for error if Fuller wants to make the roster.

However, Moore is a potential cap casualty, and no one else has proven anything in the NFL – so if Fuller makes a strong impression in camp, there’s reason to believe he will be wearing the green and blue next year, and still donning the No. 2 he wore while with the Huskies.

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Will John Ursua get his chance for Seahawks in 2020?

The Seattle Seahawks traded back into the 2019 NFL draft to select John Ursua, but after a lost first season will he be a factor in 2020?

A seventh round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, receiver John Ursua caught the eye of many Seattle Seahawks fans last summer with a strong showing in training camp and in the preseason, leading many to label him (prematurely) as the next Doug Baldwin.

While Ursua does possess the craftiness that Baldwin showed, and his size and speed are similar, he still has a long ways to go to even come close to the accolades Baldwin earned in his career, and may have to fight very hard to even find himself on the game day roster in 2020.

It’s no secret that Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are the top two receiving options in Seattle, but the competition for the final few spots is plentiful: David Moore is back and he’s joined by free agent Phillip Dorsett, sixth round pick Freddie Swain and a pair of undrafted free agents in Aaron Fuller and Seth Dawkins.

Additionally, Seattle used two selections on tight ends, Colby Parkinson and Stephen Sullivan, and both could compete for roles in the slot as well.

So, where does that leave Ursua? After all, he only saw 11 snaps during the regular season last year, hauling in just one pass which fell a yard short of a touchdown against the 49ers in Week 17.

The report is that he struggled to learn the playbook, which is what kept him listed as a healthy inactive for the majority of the season. Now that he’s up to speed, coach Pete Carroll showed some optimism surrounding the NCAA’s leader in touchdowns from 2018.

“Johnny Ursua coming up, we’re excited to see where he fits into it,” Carroll told reporters at the NFL combine back in February. “He could definitely be a factor. He was the other end of the spectrum when we’re talking about young receivers. Johnny had a long way to go and had a lot to learn, and it took him longer to assimilate. But he’s getting there now and he finished out the season with us being active and all that, so there’s a lot of exciting parts to put together here.”

Of course, those quotes were before Seattle selected three pass-catchers during the draft, and before the Dorsett signing, so his path to playing time is considerably murkier.

Ursua not only has to prove he mastered the playbook, which will give him a big leg up over the rookies who could face a condensed training camp with less chances to work in front of coaches, he also needs to prove that, at age 26, he still has room to grow and develop.

His skills as a slot receiver are definitely there, but with Seattle loading up at that spot, it looks like it will be a tough sell for Ursua to find himself a part of the offense on a weekly basis in 2020.

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John Ursua’s quarantine includes workouts on the beaches of Hawaii

Seattle Seahawks receiver John Ursua is preparing for the season with sand workouts on the beaches of his hometown in Hawaii.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver John Ursua, like you and I, has been implementing the new social distancing recommendations into place while he prepares for the 2020 season.

However, thanks to his home in Hawaii being devoid of the usual throng of tourists, the second-year wideout has been able to enjoy his quarantined situation more than most.

“Some of the parks and beaches are open, so you can go to the beach and do a sand workout, then I can go to the park and put on my cleats and get together with a smaller group,” Ursua told Dave ‘Softy’ Mahler and Dick Fain on 950 KJR on Wednesday. “I go meet up with some of the QBs who are out here, so I’m just staying very active, staying anxious for any moment to get back.”

Ursua may get the luxury of working out on the beach, but he made it clear he is more than ready to be back in Seattle with his teammates getting ready for what should be a crucial season for the young receiver.

“It’s tough not having an exact timeline,” Ursua continued. “But in my mind, I just know I’ve got to keep working for any moment, because we might have to return at any time. I’m just excited to get back with everybody.”

Ursua was a seventh round pick by Seattle in 2019, and while he impressed in preseason he spent the majority of the year on the inactive report, only appearing in three games.

He had one catch, an 11-yard gain that nearly went for a touchdown against the 49ers, but otherwise was a non-factor in a crowded receiver room.

Ursua admitted he would have liked to have played more in year one, but acknowledged that his comfort level with the playbook and the team’s comfort in him was a process that took until partway through the season to be completed.

“Where I was comfortable and the coaches and Russ (Wilson) were comfortable with me, that didn’t really come until probably midway through the season,” Ursua continued. “I felt ready at any moment, honestly I felt comfortable if I had to play Week 1, but I think where everyone was on board and was seeing, ‘OK, John is starting to understand his playbook and is starting to get comfortable,’ I think it was probably midway through the season.”

The added comfortability will help, but Ursua will have to fight to earn targets in 2020, now that Seattle added free agent Phillip Dorsett and could add even more bodies during the NFL draft.

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Phillip Dorsett signing adds even more speed to Seahawks WR corps

The Seattle Seahawks continue to collect speedy wide receivers, giving Russell Wilson and his elite accuracy on long balls another target.

The Seattle Seahawks added another receiver to the mix on Tuesday afternoon, reportedly agreeing to terms with former New England Patriots wideout Phillip Dorsett on a one-year deal.

Dorsett is coming off a solid season in New England, and he will compete for Seattle’s No. 3 receiver role behind Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.

Lately, the Seahawks have made it clear they prioritize speed above all else when coveting wide receivers, which makes sense considering Wilson’s elite ability to throw the long ball.

The addition of Dorsett, who ran a blistering 4.33 in the 40-yard dash, gives Seattle three receivers with absolutely elite sprint speed on the outside.

While Malik Turner, David Moore and John Ursua don’t possess that kind of speed, they also provide plenty of athleticism to round out Seattle’s receiving corps.

Plus, the team could potentially pursue free agent Josh Gordon if he is reinstated by the NFL, following a suspension last season that could be reversed after the new CBA passed.

Wilson is elite at nearly everything on the football field, but he often doesn’t get enough recognition for his accuracy on deep throws. That accuracy is a huge reason for the emergence of Lockett as a bonafide WR1, and of course the excellent performance of Metcalf in his rookie season.

Dorsett had a nice campaign with Tom Brady and the Patriots last year, but he could really thrive as a true x-receiver in Pete Carroll’s system if he’s allowed to cut loose on the outside.

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Seahawks bring back Malik Turner as exclusive rights free agent

The Seattle Seahawks add Malik Turner back into the mix after he had 15 catches for 245 yards and a touchdown in 15 games in 2019.

The Seattle Seahawks continued their trend of bringing the band back together this offseason, offering wide receiver Malik Turner a league minimum contract for the 2020 season.

Turner is an exclusive rights free agent, meaning he does not have the ability to negotiate with other teams. He either has to sign Seattle’s contract offer or not play in the NFL in 2020 – so all signs point to him coming back and competing for one of the team’s final wide receiver spots again this year.

Turner appeared in 15 games for the Seahawks last year, hauling in 15 receptions for 245 yards and one touchdown, while also serving a valuable role on the special teams unit.

With Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and David Moore all back in the fold, not to mention John Ursua and any draft picks or free agents the Seahawks bring into camp, it will be a tall order for Turner to carve out a bigger role this year.

However, after bringing in nearly 70 percent of his targets last year, Turner has made himself valuable to Russell Wilson and coach Pete Carroll, and could definitely take a step forward and into a big role for this team as they look to stay afloat in the elite NFC West.

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After learning a ton, John Ursua is ready to contribute in 2020

Seattle Seahawks receiver John Ursua is all caught up after struggling with the playbook last year, and he’s ready to make an impact.

The Seattle Seahawks used three of their 11 draft picks in 2019 on wide receivers. One of them, DK Metcalf, quieted the doubters and turned in an excellent rookie campaign while another, Gary Jennings, never made the active roster and was released before the season ended.

The third was John Ursua, a seventh round pick out of Hawaii who projects as a possession slot receiver in the NFL, but who only saw action in three games last year, with just 11 total snaps.

Ursua had a strong preseason, even drawing some way-too-early Doug Baldwin comparisons, but he struggled to learn the playbook and adjust to the NFL game, which hampered his ability to get on the field in year one.

Those days are behind him however, and coach Pete Carroll is excited at the prospect of a fully ready Ursua in the mix for playing time in 2020.

“Johnny Ursua coming up, we’re excited to see where he fits into it,” Carroll told reporters at the NFL combine on Tuesday. “He could definitely be a factor. He was the other end of the spectrum when we’re talking about young receivers. Johnny had a long way to go and had a lot to learn, and it took him longer to assimilate. But he’s getting there now and he finished out the season with us being active and all that, so there’s a lot of exciting parts to put together here.”

Ursua spent most of the season as a healthy inactive, appearing in three games and hauling in one reception, an 11-yard gain in the Week 17 battle with the 49ers that fell just one-yard short of the end zone.

The 26-year-old has a year of preparation under his belt, and if he can prove he’s ready to take on the playbook and the speed of the NFL game, he could be a nice short-yardage option in the receiver room in 2020.

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Seattle Seahawks have tough decision looming with David Moore

Receiver David Moore is a restricted free agent, and after a subpar performance in 2019 his time with the Seattle Seahawks could be over.

The Seattle Seahawks went into the 2019 season with a new-look wide receiver group, replacing veteran Doug Baldwin with a trio of rookies in D.K. Metcalf, Gary Jennings and John Ursua.

With Tyler Lockett and Metcalf occupying the top two spots, that left veteran Jaron Brown and a pair of young guys in David Moore and Malik Turner to compete for the No. 3 receiver role, a role that eventually went to Moore thanks to a strong showing in 2018 that resulted in 26 receptions and five touchdowns.

However, Moore never really got comfortable as Seattle’s No. 3 receiver, appearing in 14 games last year but only hauling in 50 percent (17 of 34) of his targets, with just two touchdowns.

Now set to become a restricted free agent, Moore may be on the outs if the Seahawks choose to pursue other players, either via free agency or the draft, to be their No. 3 receiver.

As a restricted free agent, the Seahawks will have the opportunity to match any offer Moore signs this offseason. Considering his relatively quiet career and lack of pedigree coming out of college, it’s entirely possible he ends up back in Seattle with little traction elsewhere.

However, the team made it clear he wasn’t cutting it partway through last season when they signed Josh Gordon to replace him, and even after he was suspended the team relied more on Turner down the stretch.

With at least a handful of other receivers expected to join the Seahawks in training camp, Moore will have to fight to have a job on the 53-man roster in 2020 – and it’s entirely possible the team lets him seek employment elsewhere by not matching a tender.

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Seahawks could use a reliable 3rd wide receiver in 2020

The Seattle Seahawks could use a reliable third wide receiver, as only Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are reliable targets at the moment.

The Seattle Seahawks find themselves with a solid one-two punch at wide receiver in Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, but they could use a reliable third option to go with the dynamic duo.

Seattle’s offense also has tight end Will Dissly, who is a real threat when healthy, but he has succumbed to season-ending injuries in both of his years in the NFL so far. Seattle’s offense has occasionally suffered in Dissly’s absence, and given his injury history, Russell Wilson may just need another weapon to utilize in the 2020 season.

Players like David Moore, Malik Turner, and Jaron Brown have not produced significantly enough to be locked in as the No. 3 receivers and all of them are impending free agents. The only other wide receiver currently on the roster for next year is John Ursua, who made a tremendous catch against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17 of 2019 but has seen extremely limited playing time.

The Seahawks could turn their attention toward free agency and the draft, even though they could have more pressing needs at other positions. Lockett and Metcalf are locks to make the 2020 roster, but the keepers of the third, and possibly fourth and fifth, wide receiver slots are currently unknown.

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Seattle Seahawks 2020 free agent profile: Wide receiver Jaron Brown

Will the Seattle Seahawks bring back veteran WR Jaron Brown, or will they look for younger options to pair with Tyler Locket and DK Metcalf?

*The Seattle Seahawks are heading into the 2020 offseason with 19 players set to become unrestricted free agents, which should make for another busy spring and summer for Pete Carroll and John Schneider as they look to shore up the roster and contend for the number one seed in the NFC again next year.*

Our free agent series continues with a look at wide receiver Jaron Brown.

Jaron Brown was a quiet signing just before the 2018 season, and while he only had 19 targets that year he did haul in 14 of them for five touchdowns, an absurdly efficient year that had many of the Seattle brass fired up for him heading into 2019.

Brown took a big step backward, however, only hauling in 16 receptions on 28 targets (a 16 percent drop in catch rate) along with just two touchdowns this season.

Brown completely disappeared down the stretch, often going weeks without getting a single target while the team relied on Josh Gordon, Malik Turner and David Moore instead.

All those factors, plus his age and the emergence of John Ursua, likely mean Brown won’t be back with the Seahawks in 2020.

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It’s been ‘touch and go’ trying to get Malik Turner healthy

Seattle Seahawks receiver Malik Turner is still recovering from a concussion, and his status for Sunday’s game against Green Bay is unknown.

The Seattle Seahawks saw their plethora of depth at wide receiver slowly dwindle over the past few weeks.

The team lost Josh Gordon to suspension, Malik Turner to a concussion and Jaron Brown to a knee injury and a family matter, leaving them with just four healthy receivers on Sunday against the Eagles.

It looks like the team is nearing full health in time for Green Bay however, with Turner returning to practice on Wednesday.

Coach Pete Carroll reiterated how cautious the team is being with Turner, who suffered a concussion near the end of the Cardinals game and did not play against San Francisco or Philadelphia.

“It’s been a little touch and go to get him back,” Carroll said on Wednesday. “We’re taking great care of him to make sure that he’s right. He’s anxious to get going and see how he feels tomorrow.”

Turner has quietly been a strong contributor to this Seattle team, hauling in 15 receptions (on 22 targets) for 245 yards and a touchdown, while also holding a valuable role on the special teams.

He still has to make it through the week, and almost certainly will be a game time decision. If he is unable to go, the team may rely on rookie John Ursua to handle his role on the offense.

The Seahawks will look to move into the NFC championship game with a win on Sunday in Green Bay, with kickoff slated for 3:40 p.m. PT.

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