Seahawks' roster-hopeful receivers turn in strong performance

Training-camp practices tend to be wide-receiver showcases, as the catches (or noncatches) a receiver makes are among the most glaring and easily visible plays day in and day out.

Consider Saturday's Seahawks scrimmage essentially a spruced-up practice session, with the biggest difference being the opportunity to make plays in front of a big crowd at Qwest Field instead of just coaches, teammates and media at the team's Kirkland headquarters.

And just another opportunity for the Seahawks' group of young receivers to make their cases for a roster spot, as the position is one of the most scrutinized of the offseason.

The team knows what it has in Nate Burleson and Bobby Engram. It hopes to have Deion Branch back for the first week of the regular season. It had hoped to see second-year man Courtney Taylor take part, but a sore hamstring kept him out of action. So the spotlight Saturday fell on top roster hopefuls Logan Payne, Jordan Kent and Ben Obomanu, perhaps only one of which will be on the final 53-man team in September.

All three turned in strong performances before a crowd of about 11,000. Kent, a 2007 sixth-round draft pick from Oregon, hauled in a 53-year touchdown. Obomanu, the only one to have actually played in a regular-season game, caught three passes for 32 yards, picking up 9 after a catch and diving into the end zone. Payne, who was on the practice squad last season, fought off a glancing blow from linebacker D.D. Lewis that stunned him and had three catches for 36 yards.

Not to mention Michael Bumpus, a rookie free agent from Washington State, who broke two tackles on a 23-yard touchdown.

"We're counting on somebody from that group, or a couple of them, to step up and play a lot," coach Mike Holmgren said. "The receivers have a lot to prove. They're all trying real hard because it's so competitive and makes sense that you'd see them show at this thing."

Obomanu had not stood out much in practices leading up to the scrimmage, but he made a statement with his play Saturday.

"All of us want to go out and show the coaches we can compete, make plays in a real game-type environment," Obomanu said.

Holmgren rested many of his starters for the scrimmage — Burleson and Engram among those — giving the fans long looks at the rest of the team.

"All of us are just trying to make a name for ourselves and make a name for our group as a whole," Payne said.

Kent didn't make his big play until near the end of the 80-minute practice/scrimmage.

"Regardless of what the competition is, you feel good when you make a play like that," he said.

Notes:

• RB Justin Forsett, the 5-foot-8 scatback from Cal, made a very good impression with a couple of cutback runs and enjoyed his first time at Qwest. "I like this field. I could get used to this," he said.

• P Ryan Plackemeier punted before the scrimmage, his first kicks since a torn pectoral muscle sidelined him during the June minicamp. Plackemeier has yet to practice in camp.

• No. 3 QB Charlie Frye had a solid scrimmage, getting extended snaps per Holmgren's call. Frye completed 10 of 14 passes for 137 yards and two TDs. "I want Charlie to play a lot. I want to know him better," Holmgren said.

• The kicking competition kicked into another gear as Brandon Coutu and veteran Olindo Mare tried five and eight field goals, respectively. Mare made four, missing a 43-yarder, and Coutu, a rookie, made six, including a 56-yard shot to end the scrimmage. "That's going to go right down to the wire," Holmgren said.

• Rookie TE John Carlson, the Seahawks' second-round draft pick this year, led the team in receptions with four and gained 33 yards.