Woe is me - thus say the Patriots fans who believe BB has lost his mojo.

How wrong you are - thus spake Quadruple option.

To explain my views on the BBD (Bill B Defence), I need to learn you up on two methods of decision-making/problem-solving. One is called incrementalism. You build on what already exists - you slowly evolve. The advantages are that you seldom break anything. The disadvantage is that you seldom make anything particularly amazing. Examples? Russian tank design. The PC.

Another is often called 'rational' (it has other terms but this ain't a policy analysis paper). The idea is that you start from a blank sheet of paper, identify what you want to achieve, and develop options to get there. The risk is that you break something - the benefit is that you can make something amazing. Examples? The iPod. The M1 Abrams. New Coke.

Now, Bill Belichick looked at his defence in the off-season and he said "Incrementalism won't work. Small improvements here and here won't work. I need to start from scratch: what do I want to achieve? How can I achieve it?'

He took his whiteboard and his markers (I always use 3 colours) and he identified what he wanted: a 4-3 transitioning to a 4-2-5 to give him this and that (what he wants specifically I do not know).

Now the problem is this: he is starting from scratch with a new design and new concepts. Prototypes don't work out of the box. Even the P-51 had to get re-engined. However... once "Merlin" Haynesworth is back, and the crappy non-bubble canopy is redesigned, the BBD is going to be bad-ass.

How badass? Well they say the Germans knew the war was lost when Mustangs could escort bombers over Berlin in daylight. And the other teams will know the Superbowl is ours when Alberto gets sack #1