Last modified: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 12:24 AM EDT Coach Bill Belichick has been in an ornery mood of late, a sure sign that the regular season is just around the corner. (Staff photo by KEITH NORDSTROM) FARINELLA: Belichick putting game-face on You can tell that the NFL regular season is getting closer. Bill Belichick's disposition is becoming more disagreeable with each passing day. The Patriots' coach didn't want to have a thing to do with the assembled media Tuesday, schlepping off just about all of its inquiries with catch-phrase clich'e9s for answers, then practically picking a verbal fight with a reporter whose questions are generally the least offensive of anyone on the beat. I suppose that's a good thing, because it means that Belichick still sees the need to have an "edge'' to him as the 2005 preseason wears on. If he entered the press room with a broad smile on his face and with a bubbly, genial lilt to his responses, there would probably be real reason for concern in Patriot Nation because that's just not how Belichick does things. For the past five-plus seasons, I've gotten the sense that Belichick is not happy unless he's miserable. I suspect he could suck the joy out of bunny rabbits and chocolate eggs on Easter Sunday. The guy has won three Super Bowls in three tries, yet he approaches each day as if a 5-11 record is just one blink of an eye away. Again, that's a good thing -- I think. I just wish I had more of a clue about what information that I, as a supposed conduit of information from the team to the fans, should be relaying to my audience. Because every time I or other reporters believe we have an idea about what issues might be concerning Belichick, he takes great care to shoot us down by what he says in his daily press conference. For instance, many of us believe that a legitimate area of concern after two preseason games has been the Patriots' run defense. With Tedy Bruschi on the shelf for at least this season and Ted Johnson having retired, the coaching staff has plugged in a pair of linebackers (Chad Brown and Monty Beisel) who are unfamiliar with the demands and expectations of the Patriots' defensive system. They looked uncertain of themselves in the first half of the 37-27 loss to New Orleans last week. Deuce McAllister and former Patriot Antowain Smith torched the defense for 125 rushing yards before intermission, which is never a good sign. But when Alan Greenberg of the Hartford Courant dared to ask Belichick if it was unrealistic for fans to expect Beisel and Brown to immediately fit in, given their unfamiliarity with the system, Belichick took the softball query and responded as if it was a personal affront. He pointedly challenged Greenberg for statistical details to support the premise that the run defense has been less effective during this preseason than it was last season. Greenberg didn't have the numbers in front of him, which weakened his position in the argument. So he responded, "I don't pay attention to the exhibition stats.'' Now, maybe it's just me, but over the past quarter-century, I've heard nine head coaches of the New England Patriots tell me that the preseason isn't really about statistics. It's about teaching, learning, and the building of a team that will put everything on the line in 16 games that count. But on this particular day, one of those head coaches almost took glee in using preseason statistics to make a reporter look silly in public. Well, here are the stats. Last year, the Patriots' opponents rushed 405 times for 1,572 yards in the regular season, an average of 3.9 yards per carry. In two preseason games this year, and under considerably different competitive circumstances, their foes have rushed 73 times for 303 yards, a 4.2-yard average. Maybe that's "about the same,'' as Belichick said. The coaches probably have a more accurate breakdown of first offense-vs.-first defense statistics that are more relevant in determining how effective the run defense has been and how it might project to anticipated regular-season performance. But I doubt there was anyone among the announced crowd of 68,756 at Gillette Stadium who didn't think that the Patriots were having trouble stopping the Saints' Deuce McAllister, who carried 20 times -- 20 times in an exhibition game!!! -- for 88 yards, 15 times for 68 yards in the first half alone (4.5-yard average). Maybe that's a problem. Maybe it isn't. Greenberg was asking Belichick if it was because, presumably, Belichick would know. But the head coach claimed he didn't. "I don't know and I don't think anybody knows where their team is three weeks into training camp,'' Belichick said. "I think you have a lot better idea after six regular-season games. That's when I think it starts to really come together. I've said that a thousand times. "That's when it really starts to declare, is when people game-plan you,'' he said. "When you try to use your strengths, when you try to deal with their strengths and try to compensate for areas where you might not be as strong in. How all of that will play out, what you can get done, how they match up against it, I think that's a whole different ballgame. "I don't know that now and I don't think anybody else does either,'' he said. "They may think they do, we'll see. Maybe they're right. Maybe they're not. We won't see until the teams get out there and put four, five or six competitive NFL regular-season games out there against any aspect of your team.'' So I suppose if the Patriots open the season 1-5, allowing more than 250 rushing yards per game as they practically did to start the 2002 season, I shouldn't worry because only until after six games will they really be ready for the regular season, right? OK, that was sarcastic. I know it. It just felt good to turn some of Belichick's sarcasm back at him. I also know this is one of those times when the general public doesn't give a rat's behind whether or not Belichick gets along with the media. "In Bill We Trust'' is the operating phrase for all things Patriot, so if he gets a little testy when dealing with our questions, most folks are likely to stand up and applaud when a writer gets his wrists slapped in public. Know this, though -- if Belichick is edgy, there's a reason for it. He doesn't do anything without a reason, and a plan, and you can bet that if there's a problem, he's working even longer hours than he already does in the effort to fix it. The only time he allows himself to smile is when he can afford to -- when he's holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy aloft. MARK FARINELLA may be reached at 508-236-0315 or via e-mail at mfarinel@thesunchronicle.com