The first day the entire team reports to camp, Wednesday in the Ravens' case, is reminiscent of the first day of school. Players are happy to see their friends (teammates and coaches). They're showing off their new clothes (their improved physiques). They're excited about the work ahead. Other than the season opener, there isn't a more optimistic day on the NFL calendar.

The most noticeable difference between a usual practice and training camp practice is the fans' presence. It's been almost six months since Ravens fans have been cheering on the players on the football field, and their sound is missed. The fans will sometimes yell out at the players, and they occasionally get a response. Sometimes there's a casual sideline conversation. Even though there are fewer fans in Owings Mills than there were at Westminster, I especially enjoy Military Day and the kids we have at practice, and there's still a special connection.

There's no down time at a Ravens practice. It's a treat to watch how Head Coach John Harbaugh always has everybody doing something, finely-tuned to get the most out of every minute. There isn't any walking either. Players jog between every drill and the 11-on-11 portions have a high pace.

This is my favorite drill. Rushers and linemen split into their own groups, lined up opposite each other. Then it's a one-on-one battle. It's not super realistic because linemen often have help, or at least the knowledge that if the defender breaks inside he's going to run into a 300-pound man. But it's probably the closest thing to a gladiator-like display of strength and speed. It's gotten so intense at times that Harbaugh has halted other drills and gathered the team around to watch.

Count this as my second-favorite drill. One of the positions most on an island in football is cornerback. Thus, they are isolated there for cornerback vs. wide receiver drills. There is generally a clear winner and loser here, unlike in many other battles. The wideout has the advantage in single coverage, and the defensive backs all cheer raucously when they get their hands on the ball, let alone an interception.

Individual drills are important, but they're not as much fun as watching players actually play football. The Ravens have several sessions of 11-on-11 drills every day. It's treated like a game, complete with two-minute drills at each practice. The coordinators are also engaged in a battle of wits as they bark out different plays. It gets quite competitive, and it seems like all involved keep mental score.

The Ravens have a lot of characters on their squad, and they're not afraid to make their voices heard. Expect Terrell Suggs to be chirping as usual, and his defensive mates such as Art Jones and Lardarius Webb will be in chorus. Some of it is playful joking around, and some of it turns into more competitive chatter. The offense doesn't just sit back and take it, however. Quarterback Joe Flacco will step up to the plate, and chide Suggs. He even used to bark at Ray Lewis, and could be even more vocal now.

The deeper into camp the Ravens get, the feistier the players will get. The heat wears on a player's body and temperament. That's often when there will be a scrum after a play, when somebody gets blocked for a little too long, or if there is a hit that's a bit too hard. Fights aren't encouraged, and they're broken up quickly, but sometimes blowing off a little steam is just part of camp. Guard Jah Reid tussled during Organized Team Activities (OTAs), and center Gino Gradkowski mixes it up too.

The intensity of training camp practices was limited under the new collective bargaining agreement. No longer are there two-a-day padded practices. The Ravens generally aren't hitting all out, rather just touching a player instead of making a tackle. But on occasion the team has had more full-on tackling, which is always interesting to see. After a while, touch football gets old for the defense.

It's fun to watch the rookies grow throughout the course of camp, and this year it's especially important as a number of them could fill key roles. Safety Matt Elam and linebacker Arthur Brown may be in with the first-team defense from the start. It's also interesting to watch for the undrafted rookie who starts to emerge from the pack. There's at least one every year.