Branch showing he's now top option

KIRKLAND — The pass floated into Deion Branch's outstretched hands, right between a pair of San Diego Chargers for a touchdown.

It was the first Matt Hasselbeck-to-Branch scoring connection in the new season, and the Seahawks hope for more such hookups. A lot more.

That's the expectation, anyway. Branch is set to be the main receiver Hasselbeck looks to now that Darrell Jackson is gone. As soon as Branch made the catch last Sunday, the subject was raised again: Are Hasselbeck and Branch completely on the same page?

Branch says every day, things are clicking more. By the way, he added, it's time to move on from the departure of Jackson.

"I know it's going to be a hot topic. I understand that part," Branch said. "I'm tired of hearing about the Darrell Jackson thing. If the team is over it ... They wouldn't have pulled the trigger and made that trade if they didn't want to do it. It doesn't dictate anything about what I'm doing because of what happened to Darrell, I still have to go out there and make plays."

Branch did that in limited snaps in the exhibition game, and he's been almost uncoverable often in training camp. He also had parts of the minicamps to work with his quarterback, and is enjoying the benefit of a training camp because he wasn't with Seattle at the start of last season, having been traded in September of 2006.

"I'm more experienced and know the offense," Branch said. "It's not me coming in and doing so much thinking now. I'm just reacting, just playing football. I knew coming in that in the beginning it was going to take some time, but now I feel like I'm going out there and reacting."

Gray gets vote of confidence

During the offseason and heading into camp, coach Mike Holmgren sought to open up competition for the starting jobs at right guard and right tackle.

The plan was to see whether Chris Gray could hold off Ray Willis and Floyd Womack at right guard, and whether Sean Locklear could keep his spot over Willis and possibly Womack.

With camp ending a week from today, it appears Locklear, and more so Gray, have maintained their spots and will open the season at right tackle and right guard, barring an unforeseen injury.

"Chris Gray is solid as a rock at right guard," Holmgren said. "He's not playing his age [37]. It's kind of settling into, right now, probably where we left off last year."

Gray was the starting right guard and Locklear the right tackle when the Seahawks lost to the Chicago Bears in the playoffs to end the 2006 season.

"I've played long enough now that if I'm not doing a good enough job, I won't be in there," Gray said. "I've been blessed. Not too many injuries and I feel good. All I can do is all I can do."

Locklear has right knee soreness that is keeping him from practicing for now, so Willis figures to get the most of the playing time at right tackle in the exhibition season. Locklear has been having a good camp, Holmgren said, but might be rested along with No. 1 left tackle Walter Jones for the duration of August.

After a look at Willis at right guard, Holmgren says right tackle is probably the natural position for the third-year pro.

"I have really no preference as to where I play, as long as I play," Willis said.

Hasselbeck to be limited

Holmgren hasn't decided how much Hasselbeck will play Saturday at Green Bay — he and the coaching staff were to discuss that in a meeting Wednesday night — but it won't be much more than the one series Hasselbeck got in against San Diego.

Holmgren said he has to see No. 3 quarterback David Greene play. Greene, nor two quarterbacks on the Seahawks' roster, Derek Devine and Erik Meyer, got any snaps in San Diego as Holmgren went with Hasselbeck for the game's opening possession (a touchdown drive) and Seneca Wallace the rest of the game.

"I'm doing what they [the coaches] say," Hasselbeck said. "I realize that I'm just one guy on this team and they have to get a look at other guys and find out some things about different positions. I would love to play as much as they put me in there, and if they don't, they don't."

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com