Indeed, when you have shown nothing better, but more of a case of physique regress, it may be so.
There's no "physique regress" in Heath. He was simply off. People were saying much the same thing about his supposed regressing, after Heath's fifth-place finish at the 2007 Arnold.
Then, 2008 rolls around. Heath wins the IronMan and WHOA NELLIE!!!! All the talk was about the major improvements he's made.
And this is from a guy who won the USA on his first try, along with winning his first two pro shows (at the expense of several top-10 Olympia athletes).
Been hearing that for a while now.
For a while? This was just Heath's second Olympia. Give the man some time.
Look at the Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, and Dexter Jackson. It took each of them at least SIX tries, before they got their first Sandow.