Stay tuned for scrubs

RENTON, Wash. – So you’re all revved up for tonight’s Seahawks game.

It may be the preseason, but darn it, it’s football. It is, however, still the first preseason game. Most of the starters will be gone before the first quarter ends, and by the end of the game you’ll be seeing players you’ve never heard of, many of whom won’t be on the team by the time the season starts.

So how are you supposed to stay interested into the fourth quarter when future Seahawks practice squad players are taking on future San Diego practice squad players?

Glad you asked.

Here are a few tips to making tonight’s second half worth watching:

Keep an eye on Curry: Linebacker Aaron Curry, the Seahawks’ first-round draft pick will be a busy man tonight. When Lofa Tatupu, Patrick Kerney and the rest of the top defensive players are done for the night, the rookie outside linebacker will still be working.

Seahawks coach Jim Mora said Curry will play into the third quarter, with the additional reps designed to help him catch up from the eight days of missed training camp. Curry will not only be on the field for much of the game, he’ll be testing the pass-rushing skills that many people wondered if he had coming out of college. Curry has looked impressive rushing the quarterback in practice, but wasn’t asked to do that much at Wake Forest, so that was seen as a potential hole in his résumé heading into the draft.

Don’t be surprised to see Curry lined up at the line of scrimmage in passing situations.

“We’re going to play him at right end some,” Mora said. “We’re going to do it early in the game … and see how he does. You know, if there’s one thing that I would look for … it’s watch Aaron Curry and see how he rushes as an end. We’re going to find out a little bit, you know? I’m excited to see it.”

Watch the wideouts: Sure, it will be fun to see how new receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and rookie Deon Butler look, and if Nate Burleson’s knee and Deion Branch’s … well, everything … are ready to hold up to game action. But the receivers to really keep an eye on are the other six guys battling for two – or maybe even one – roster spots.

Ben Obomanu, Courtney Taylor, Jordan Kent, Logan Payne, Mike Hass and Michael Bumpus have all had good days during training camp, but there’s not room for all of them on the team, so these preseason games will go a long ways toward determining who survives the roster cuts.

O-line action: One of the biggest differences for this year’s team is the zone-blocking scheme implemented by offensive coordinator Greg Knapp. It’s obviously something the team has practiced, but the cut blocking the new scheme calls for is hard to properly simulate in a practice situation, so this will be the first chance for the linemen to really get after it.

The offensive line is also one of the least-settled positions in terms of a starting lineup thanks to injuries and the retirement of left guard Mike Wahl, so plenty of people on the field will feel like they have something to prove. Second-round draft pick Max Unger should have get lots of work, and cold see time at both right guard and center.

Who isn’t ready? The action on the field is the main attraction, but it’s also worth noting who doesn’t take the field. Mora said Thursday that left tackle Walter Jones, cornerback Marcus Trufant, guard Mansfield Wrotto and guard Grey Ruegamer have all been ruled out, but that everyone else could play. Keep an eye out to see if some of the other players who have been limited in camp, such as Kerney and center Chris Spencer, are ready to go.

Will Matt take a hit? OK, so this one applies only to the early part of the game, but it’s still important to watch for. The Seahawks certainly hope their quarterback doesn’t get touched in the limited time he’s on the field – Mora said Matt Hasselbeck will play only a series or two – but if he does get hit, especially in the back, how’s he going to handle it? So far this training camp, Hasselbeck’s back has been problem free, but the real test will be when contact comes into play.