Which is why the smallest man on the field stole the show at Saturday’s scrimmage at Qwest Field. The 5-foot-8 (with heels), 194-pound (with 5-pound weights in his pockets) Forsett darted around and through his teammates to personify exactly what training camp is all about.

On a roster that likely has its five running backs already set, Forsett made the estimated 10,000 fans who got to see the Seahawks for the first time since their playoff victory over the Washington Redskins last season take notice of him.

He slammed into bigger players – which is to say, everybody else. He broke off a 33-yard run on a draw play, accounting for most of his team-high 51 rushing yards on nine carries.

And the seventh-round pick from Cal even managed to catch two passes, strengthening his bid to make the team against the odds.

“He’s a great little guy, a tough guy, and I’m pulling for him,” Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. “We’ll see how it goes.”

Forsett and newcomer T.J. Duckett got the bulk of the carries because Holmgren wanted to evaluate players trying to make the roster in a more intense setting rather than give his regulars reps they likely don’t need.

It’s why Walter Jones, Lofa Tatupu, Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson all remained on the side with the burgeoning number of injured players who were unable to participate.

And it’s why quarterback Matt Hasselbeck took only five snaps before stepping aside for Seneca Wallace and Charlie Frye.

The setting provided fans the opportunity to see firsthand the competition between the team’s four young receivers for the two spots that see the majority of the time during games.

And none of the receivers disappointed – though Courtney Taylor was out with a sore hamstring. Logan Payne led all receivers with three catches for 36 yards, though he briefly left the game after taking a shot to the ribs by linebacker D.D. Lewis, who normally would not be pounding his own teammate in practice.

Ben Obomanu had three receptions for 32 yards and added a 13-yard touchdown reception. Young speedster Jordan Kent got behind former Washington Husky Omare Lowe and Kelin Johnson to haul in a 53-yard reception.

And Washington State product Michael Bumpus continued to impress by catching the ball on the 5-yard line, taking a big hit from cornerback Josh Wilson, bouncing off and diving into the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown.

“We are all going out there and compete and make plays in a game-type of environment,” Obomanu said.

“It is still not the real thing, but I think we all wanted to go out and have the coaches put a little more trust in us. I think we all did really good and we can carry that with us to next weekend’s preseason game” at Minnesota.

Rookie tight end John Carlson had a solid day, catching four passes for 33 yards, as did Duckett, who used his 250-pound frame to earn 5-, 6- and 7-yard gains. He had nine carries for 25 yards, plus caught a swing pass for a short touchdown.

The scrimmage also afforded the kickers, rookie Brandon Coutu and veteran Olindo Mare, the chance to compete in a pressure situation for the first time. Early in the scrimmage, Coutu was well short on a 48-yard attempt. He also hit the left upright on a 51-yard attempt.

However, when Holmgren lined them up for a direct competition, both kickers made their attempts from 38, 43 and 48 yards. Mare was wide on a 43-yard attempt in the latter portions of the scrimmage. Coutu ended the day with a 56-yarder.

“It’s real close. And that (competition)’s going to go right down to the wire,” Holmgren said. “I think they both did some good things today.”

Extra points

Injured rookie defensive tackle Red Bryant said he does not know when he tore the cartilage in his left knee that required arthroscopic surgery Friday. Bryant, a fourth-round pick from Texas A&M, said he woke up Thursday morning with pain in his knee and team’s doctors told him that while he could continue to practice he should have the tear repaired. Bryant is expected to miss four-to-five weeks. … Defensive end Chris Cooper, who missed Friday’s practice with a leg injury, took part in the scrimmage, though defensive tackle and former UW star Larry Tripplett, who injured his knee, did not. ... Cornerback DeMichael Dizer injured his knee early in the scrimmage; Holmgren said he thinks the injury is serious.

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CAMP KIRKLAND

Testing the turf

Saturday’s scrimmage was the first time the Seahawks played on Qwest Field’s new FieldTurf surface since the organization replaced it in the offseason.

There are still a lot of granular pieces of rubber below the artificial grass that need to be worked into the system, but the reviews of the turf were good.

Kicker Olindo Mare said it will take awhile to get used to it because it is much different than regular grass.

Offensive line update

With Walter Jones sitting out to rest, Floyd Womack started at left tackle.

Steve Vallos started at center, which will remain the case until Chris Spencer returns, which the team hopes will be next week.

Short yardage failure

On the team’s first third-and-short situation, coach Mike Holmgren called for the I-formation, with David Kirtman the blocking back and T.J. Duckett the tailback.

The result was reminiscent of last season; Duckett was thrown for a 3-yard loss.

Fans need practice, too

Midway through the scrimmage, Holmgren addressed the crowd, asking them to make some noise.

The 10,000 or so fans responded, and the stadium quickly filled with ear-splitting noise even though it was less than 20 percent full.

Several of the players commented on it, with safety Jamar Adams going so far as to say the crowd sounded like a Big Ten game. He amended that when asked if it was as loud as a game between Ohio State and Michigan, his alma mater.

Frank Hughes, The News Tribune