I have to disagree. Over the past couple of years everyone kept saying we had to get younger and faster, and guess what, we have! Combine that with our awesome QB and excellent head coach, and we are re-stocked and reloaded. Watch out NFL!!
Younger and faster doesn't mean playing well right from the first games.
Perhaps the thread title was not worded well. It should have probably read "This team is performing waaaaayyyy above expectation".
Even Brady had to sit his first year and was not "Tom F. Brady" in 2001. He was the efficient Dink and Dunk guy we all prayed wouldn't screw up. Anyone saying they felt different at the time is lying through every single one of their teeth.
The general feeling on this board and throughout NFL circles was that the young team would have alot of growing pains for the first half of the season and the optimists (myself in that group) kept looking for the team to gel with some game experience and get hot after Thanksgiving.
Then we lost, Bodden. Then we lost MacGowan. Then we lost Ty Warren. Then we lost K. Faulk. Then the Moss trade.
Anyone saying they expected 5-1 at THIS POINT given the new players (Hernandez is 20 fer cryin' out loud) and the UDFA's is not telling truths here.
At the Moss trade, there were polls here and every place in America asking whether that trade signified the Patriots "giving up on their season".
How can any Pats fan not enjoy what we are seeing in front of eyes right now? It's like a parent watching with mouth agape as his/her 6 year old spells "onomatopoeia" correctly at her Kindergarten spelling bee.
These young guys have stepped up unbelievably well. The quality depth in this organization is astounding compared to the rest of the league. The Pats were shown to pay their practice squad players more than other teams and that has paid off in spades - - don't forget Ninko, BJGE, Sergio Brown, Connolly, etc. all came from our well-stocked PS over the recent time. For the Dan Snyders of the world the practice squad is the choreographer for the cheerleaders.
With 6 picks in the first three rounds next April, the next decade belongs to the Patriots also.