It may just be exhibition season, but soccer is the prime time on the sports betting calendar. The NFL preseason begins this weekend with the battle of the Eagles and Raiders. One thing to keep in mind when analyzing pre-season soccer is how to distinguish the important quotes from the players and coaches from the ones that aren’t.

For example, this week Oakland’s Warren Sapp was firing: “Woke up from the nightmare and playing a 4-3 defense again, boss. You want me, come get me.” He also added: “I really like this baseball club. I can’t help but think we have a chance.” Warren Sapp ALWAYS talks about everything, especially himself, as does one of his teammates, Randy Moss. Those are examples of quotes that don’t really mean much to a sports bettor, except for the fact that Oakland is switching from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 this season.

I come across comments like this every day when I review newspaper accounts and TV interviews of teams and players. Discard most of it as it is mostly trash. Who cares that Warren Sapp thinks the Raiders have a chance to be good? It does not mean anything. It would be more interesting if he said that team chemistry sucks and he wants out!

More important are the details that pertain to the game. For example, for Sunday’s game, new coach Art Shell plans to give his quarterback freedom to call a few plays and during 2-minute drills and no-huddle situations. He’s also been emphasizing discipline in practice, as the Raiders have been a sloppy team in recent years, especially with penalties. Shell expects his players to be sharp, detailed, and disciplined. Shell will be very interested in seeing the Raiders outplay most coaches this time of year.

Another piece of information I came across was at the Rams’ camp. New coach Scott Linehan has instituted a balanced offense for this season, which is a stark contrast to the way the Rams played under Mike Martz, who is pass-happy. “I like the balance, where teams aren’t going to be able to walk into the Edward Jones Dome and say, ‘Okay, they’re going to pass the ball 50 times a game,'” Orlando Pace said this week. “I really enjoy knowing that we can pass and run.” He also added that practice has been, “much more physical. We’re really emphasizing the race, and we’re chasing it pretty well.” The Rams have been a finer team, especially since defensive coordinator Lovie Smith left after the 2002 season. They may be a more physical team, something to keep in mind in the preseason.

Another team planning to run a lot more football is the Chiefs under new coach Herm Edwards. Edwards said the offense will run the ball more in 2006 as he feels it will finally help the Chiefs’ defense. The Texans have a new head coach in Gary Kubiak and he brought in “zone lockout schemes” that helped make the Denver Broncos such a strong team over the last 11 years. Keep an eye out for Houston’s pass protection and running game this August.

Also, keep in mind that the Browns will be very young in the backfield, with quarterbacks Charlie Frye, Ken Dorsey and Derek Anderson. All of these quotes and tidbits are important when it comes to evaluating pre-season football, as opposed to the bland quotes that mean nothing. Learning to distinguish gold from junk will help you become a better punter!