Seahawks | It's the backups' big dance

Seventy-five becomes 53 after tonight.

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. at Qwest Field.

For roster hopefuls still clinging to NFL dreams, tonight 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 tonight. 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 tonight.

"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.

"Practices mean just as much, even more, than preseason games sometimes," Obomanu said. "I have confidence in myself. Catching passes in a preseason game doesn't always tell the story of whether you're doing a good job."

Forsett made a huge splash in the second exhibition game when he ran for 136 yards and had 117 return yards at Qwest Field. He followed that performance, though, with only 9 yards on four carries and a lost fumble at San Diego. The rookie seventh-round pick is trying to force his way onto the roster, though the Seahawks figure to have five running backs on the team already — Julius Jones, Maurice Morris, T.J. Duckett and fullbacks Leonard Weaver and Owen Schmitt.

"My coach used to tell me, 'Don't let your highs be too high and your lows be too low,' " Forsett said. "You're going to have some bad plays, you're going to have some bad days. You just got to go out there and try to learn from your mistakes."

Wallace, a former UW player, was an undrafted rookie safety who flew around to the ball so much last year that the Seahawks kept him on the team. Special teams is his main role. Payne also must contribute on special teams, and feels he has to make some plays both there and as a receiver.

"Last game, just go out and play some football," Payne said. "That's the way you have to approach things. You can't worry about anything else."

Those who come to Qwest Field won't see the same team they will when the regular season starts. But they will see a lot of hungry, driven players playing like this is the game of their lives.

"This is their game," Holmgren said. "Show us."

Note

• Former Western Washington linebacker Shane Simmons signed with the Raiders on Wednesday and will be in uniform tonight. Simmons signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in May and was released in June. Simmons is a graduate of Kentlake High School.

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