Article Courtesy of Ben Burns Consulting, A Featured professional football handicapper on Touthouse.com. If you are betting 2008 NFL Preseason Football this year, Click Here to Buy Preseason Football Picks

The dogs certainly roared in Week 1 of the NFL preseason, rolling to a 10-5-2 spread mark. Oddsmakers typically like it when the dogs bark loudly. There was not much in the way of strategy, which is the norm, with most offensive and defensive coordinators showing almost nothing. Evaluating young personnel is more important in the opening week.

Weeks 2 and 3 of the preseason, however, are when coaches begin to play starters more and map out game plans, before generally caring very little about Week 4. Two teams have already played two games, the Redskins and Colts. Washington is 2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS under new coach Jim Zorn, while the Colts are 0-2 SU/1-1 ATS under Tony Dungy.

For this week, keep an eye on the NY Jets offense. The Jets have been a good preseason team under Eric Mangini, now 4-1 SU/ATS the last five games. The offense is in the third year of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s high-tech scheme that features an array of shifts and motions.

Word is that the team wants to throw deep more, which is why they were aggressive in pursuing QB Brett Favre, who will start his first game this weekend. Former QB Chad Pennington did not have good arm strength. Because of that, opposing defenses didn’t have to fear the deep passes from Pennington and they could even cheat a bit on the perimeter stuff near the sideline. That allowed opposing defenses to stack eight defenders in the box to stuff RB Thomas Jones at or near the line of scrimmage and smother Leon Washington when the Jets tried to get him into space to make a big play with his elusiveness and speed.

The result was a 19th ranking in the NFL in rushing in 2007. Only five teams had an average of less than the Jets’ 3.8-yards per carry, and there was far too much pressure on Pennington and Kellen Clemens. They hope that has all changed. Favre is a more of a mad bomber, a la Darryl Lamonica in the old AFL days. It is already evident in training camp this week, airing it out.

Favre can stretch defense, which could translate into wider running lanes for Jets’ backs. Don’t forget the Jets have a new-look offensive line, with Alan Faneca and Damien Woody joining Nick Mangold, D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Brandon Moore. All of which bares watching the next two weeks. Note that the Jets are 4-2 ‘over’ the total their last six preseason contests.

In Minnesota, the Vikings added a big name free agent in safety Madieu Williams to help with their weak secondary (last in the NFL in 2007). He is an excellent cover guy, but just suffered a neck injury and could miss up to six weeks. It’s a setback for a pass defense that finished last and was counting on having a top-notch cover safety in Williams for all 16 games. Rookie safety Tyrell Johnson will be called on to fill in for him.

Defense is on the docket in Philadelphia, too, after adding CB Asante Samuel in free agency and Chris Clemons, the new pass-rusher. The mantra this preseason has been: “Strip the ball!” The Eagles were last in takeaways (19) in the entire NFL in 2007. Jim Johnson is one of the best defensive coordinators in the game, so with all the upgrades, it’s likely the Eagles will be improved in the turnover department, though they didn’t cause any in the preseason opener, a loss at Pittsburgh, mostly with backups.

Out West, the 49ers dead-last offense has a new makeover with offensive coordinator Mike Martz. However, it’s going to take time, as was evident in the preseason opener, an 18-6 loss at Oakland. Neither J.T. O’Sullivan, Alex Smith nor Shaun Hill distinguished himself. O’Sullivan and Hill each threw an interception, and O’Sullivan also lost a fumble. Newcomer O’Sullivan, looked like he was trying to make to do too much.

One final note is the unusual spacing between the Panthers’ preseason games and then with their regular-season opener. Carolina is in the middle of a five-day break between the Indianapolis game and Thursday’s second exhibition, at Philadelphia. Then the Panthers will wait nine days before an Aug. 23 game against Washington. Then it’s another five days before the exhibition finale at Pittsburgh on Aug. 28. After that, it’s 10 days before the regular season opens Sept. 7 at San Diego. Travel time and preparation can be important wagering angles, so keep an eye on how the Panthers are affected the next few weeks.