Thiel: Young, then there’s Seahawks’ young

Asked Wednesday what distinguished this Seahawks team from others he has coached, Pete Carroll was quick to identify three characteristics: Youth, athleticism and a cohesion he termed “tightness.”

The latter two are subjective evaluations that are seemingly being borne out by improved play and an 8-5 record that is inducing numerous national websites and pundits to list the Seahawks as trendy Super Bowl darkhorses.

But the issue of age is empirical. There is no doubt Carroll was not kidding when he said this team “is the youngest we’ve been.”

Because of the injury absences of CB Marcus Trufant (31) and LB Leroy Hill (30), the Seahawks, in their 22 scrimmage positions, started the past two games just a single player over 30 — DE Chris Clemons, 31.

Besides those three, the Seahawks’ active roster has only four others on the creaky side of 30 — P Jon Ryan, 32; and reserves RB Leon Washington, LB Heath Farwell and OL Frank Omiyale, all 30. Only two others are even 29 — FB Michael Robinson and OL Paul McQuistan.

The virtue of youth has always been the highest priority in team-building under Carroll and GM John Schneider. NFL experience, in their view, is trumped by the speed, quickness and energy of younger, less injured players.

It’s why they try to hoard draft choices more than most teams. The Seahawks have 24 Seattle draftees on their ever-churning roster, 19 from their own drafts of the past three seasons. The only remaining players from the 2005 team that went to the Super Bowl, Trufant and Hill, are questionable for Sunday’s game in Toronto against Buffalo.

Carroll was especially unafraid to put rookies in charge of the offensive and defensive units. Of course, QB Russell Wilson, who just turned 24, runs the offense. Another rookie, second-round draft choice Bobby Wagner, 22, is the leader of the defense at middle linebacker.

Reliance on youth is also helpful with payroll, allowing the Seahawks more room under the cap to sign WR Sidney Rice, TE Zach Miller, QB Matt Flynn and DLs Alan Branch and Jason Jones, the only unrestricted veteran free agents on the roster.

“We’re a really young team like we had in college days,” Carroll said. “I think what sets us apart right now is that we’re a very athletic team that also has a really good feeling about each other. They’re tight and close. We have a very cohesive group. That’s been very consistent.

“It’s an exciting group that we’re bringing up.”

The kids have accomplished a few things, but still need to make the playoffs before anointment can begin. But they are making a compelling argument that experience is overrated.

NOTES —  CB Richard Sherman confirmed Wednesday that there is no hearing scheduled on his appeal Friday for a violation of the NFL substance-abuse policy. He did not say whether a hearing had been scheduled. The Friday date was widely reported, but Sherman suggested it wasn’t true. It was also reported that he hired a private (non-union) attorney to represent him in the appeal.  That suggests it could take awhile for the new lawyer to get up to speed, increasing the likelihood that, if his appeal heard and denied, the automatic four-game suspension will be pushed back, perhaps beyond the end of the regular season and into 2013 regular season . . . Meanwhile his teammate, Brandon Browner, will serve the second of his four-game suspension Sunday. Walter Thurmond again will start in his place. However, Thurmond popped up on the injury report Wednesday with a hamstring problem and was listed as limited . . . WR Sidney Rice developed soreness in a foot Monday that required him to wear a protective boot and to miss practice Wednesday. Charly Martin is expected to get Rice’s reps in practice  . . . The Seahawks will debut in Toronto their “wolf grey” jerseys and pants that was part of their radical uniform makeover this season. The club reported a sales increase of 274 percent over a year ago attributable to the new gear . . . If you hadn’t heard, the Seahawks-49ers game at the Clink Dec. 23 has been shifted from 1 p.m. to the 5:30 p.m. NBC national telecast of “Sunday Night Football.”