Mens swimming in the US

What does it mean when we look at the performance of the US men's swimming team at Beijing without Phelps....... i.e. without the man carrying the team? Is he merely the "Vince Young" of a slightly above average football Team? We essentially lose the 400 free relay, 100 fly (Ian moves form 4th to 3rd), 200 IM and 400 IM (Lochted moves to silver), 200 free and 200 fly. That's makes 6 less golds and one extra bronze. The US would effectively only win 2 individual events...... the 200 and 100 back. Is Phelps a true representation of the state of US men's swimming or and exception? www.nbcolympics.com/.../index.html