It’s the Seahawks’ backups’ big dance

By Jose Miguel Romero | Seattle Times • Published August 28, 2008

SEATTLE — Seventy-five becomes 53 after Friday night.

Don’t think that won’t be on the minds of plenty of Seahawks as they prepare to take the field against the Oakland Raiders in their exhibition finale at 7 p.m. PDT at Qwest Field.

For roster hopefuls still clinging to NFL dreams, Friday night is their night. No one figures to sit on the bench unless they are hurt, and with so many Seahawks regulars unable to play — not that they would play much anyway — the backups will have their time to show coaches they belong on the final roster to be set Saturday.

So many things will be resolved Friday night. Has linebacker David Hawthorne, one of the surprises of August, made the team? Will Justin Forsett crack the running-back rotation? Will it be C.J. Wallace, Jamar Adams or Kelin Johnson as the fourth safety? Will the Seahawks go with rookie Brandon Coutu at kicker, or veteran Olindo Mare? Has Jason Babin made the team at defensive end? How many receivers will be kept?

Forget winning or losing. When jobs and futures are on the line, it’s who stands out to the coaches that really counts Friday night.

“First of all, you appreciate how hard they’ve worked — all of them,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “You know how important it is to them, the dreams of the guys. So it’s absolutely important that we are fair and honest with them and hope we make the right decision. It’s very difficult. They’re all good guys, and they’ve worked very hard for this. But we have to do this . . . We have to get down to 53.”

Ben Obomanu has been there before. The wide receiver has been a practice-squad player and worked his way into regular-season games in his two previous seasons. He figured to be a lock for a roster spot at the outset of training camp, but teammates Jordan Kent, Logan Payne, Courtney Taylor and Michael Bumpus each have at least two more catches then Obomanu, who has just one in exhibition play.

But Obomanu doesn’t feel like tonight is a make-or-break game for him. He reasons that it isn’t about statistics in games and feels his performance from exhibition and regular-season games in seasons past will aid his cause.