SEATTLE — You won’t see much of Matt Hasselbeck tonight, nor will you see a large number of plays for the likes of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Julius Jones, Lofa Tatupu or Patrick Kerney.
Tonight is the fourth and final preseason game, the one in which starters hardly will play because the risk of injury is simply too great this close to the season opener.
“My years as a backup quarterback I think have trained me for this,” Hasselbeck said. “You prepare like you’re going to play, then it’s a big letdown on game day when you don’t get to, but you need to prepare like you’re going to, and you never know what’s going to happen.”
You never know, but you can be pretty darn sure Hasselbeck’s appearance tonight will amount to little more than a first-quarter cameo.
So why bother? What’s the point of exhibition game No. 4, a 7 p.m. contest against the Raiders at Qwest Field? Well for a lot of players who aren’t household names, tonight could determine their NFL future.
“To a lot of these players in this locker room, and to us as a team, it’s very important,” Seahawks coach Jim Mora said. “There will be some decisions that are made based upon what happens (tonight). After a long offseason, a long (training) camp, and three preseason games, you’d think that all the decisions have been made, but they really haven’t been. There’s just some races that are too close to call. This becomes very important.”
Decisions on the final roster, which must be trimmed to 53 players by Saturday, won’t be based entirely on tonight, but rather a player’s body of work including training camp and the earlier preseason games. But in some of those tight battles, what happens tonight could serve as the tie-breaker.
Take the kickers, for example. Kicking is always a high-pressure job, but for Olindo Mare and Brandon Coutu, a couple of misses could send someone packing. Mare was the team’s kicker last year, but Coutu was also on the roster. The team has made it clear that two kickers won’t be kept this year.
“It’s very close. Very close,” Mora said. “I mean, it’s neck and neck.”
Injuries at some positions could affect roster numbers at other spots. With Walter Jones and Chris Spencer both potentially out at the start of the season, the Seahawks might need to carry a ninth offensive lineman. Could that mean another position — wide receiver, for example — stands to lose a spot on the roster?
If so, that means Ben Obomanu, Courtney Taylor, Jordan Kent, Logan Payne and Mike Hass could be competing for just one spot. At best, those five are fighting for two positions. When evaluating those players, what they do on special teams tonight will be just as important as how they play receiver.
It might not be as interesting as watching Hasselbeck throw touchdown passes to John Carlson in the regular season, but keep an eye on the play of tight ends Joe Newton and Cameron Morrah — one will likely make the team, while the other won’t.
Pay attention to the play of defensive tackle Michael Bennett and ends Baraka Atkins and Nick Reed. In all likelihood, only one of those three will make the team although all can make a case for being on the 53-man roster.
“I always think it’s really an exciting preseason game to go into because in that second half, you’re seeing some guys that are just playing for their livelihood, I mean, just scratching to make the team,” Mora said. “That passion comes out and there’s some great energy on the field.”
And finally, if you really need your fix of star power, take comfort in knowing that rookie linebacker Aaron Curry will get more playing time than most starters. Curry was late getting to camp, also missed most of a week of practice and one preseason game with a groin injury, so getting him extra playing time will help prepare him for his rookie season.
“He’ll get some reps Thursday night for sure, because he needs it,” Mora said.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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