I think in a round about way the inexperience factored into what the team experienced last year.
McCarthy came out with a quote two years ago that left people scatching their heads when he said "these young guys will have to learn how to handle success."
In '07 coming off a good second half of '06 the team probably overachieved. They won all the close ones and ended up with in the NFC Championship game with a second year HC and the youngest team in the NFL. Quite remarkable really.
Last year the close ones didn't go their way and the level of play by many players fell off from the previous year. The results were also affected by some injuries to some veteran players.
That little bit of loss of focus and not paying attention to the little things cost them games they should have won.
The good news is now they have had a taste of both the good and the bad. My guess is they got it that the extra work and the extra effort and the extra study time does pay off and they now know the fine line in whats necessary to win consistantly or ending up 6-10.
To think this team as young as it was could just ride a wave to the top and not end up some where along the line hitting a bump in the road is just asking too much. The good news is they proved they could do it and be successful so it's not like the talents not there or they are outgunned on the field.
NOW they have the experience. The experience of both winning and losing and whats necessary to not let '08 happen again.
"The train is leaving the station."