The Ravens lack experience at the outside linebacker positions with Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs missing training camp, but it's exciting to watch some of these young players.
Kamalei Correa, the second-round pick out of Boise State, has played well at both the inside and outside positions, but I'd put him inside opposite C.J. Mosley.
Correa might be a good pass rusher but he also has surprising power in his lower body. He appears to be better in coverage than Zach Orr, who is also competing for a starting inside job.
Also, keep an eye on outside linebacker Matthew Judon, a rookie from Grand Valley State. He has good movement and size at 6-3 and 275 pounds.
Meanwhile, Orr has been more consistent than in his previous three seasons with the team. The Ravens might have more depth here than expected, but we will know more once the preseason games start.
Orr played well in training camp last season, but wasn't as impressive once the games started.
Under control
Correa has shown good versatility and is having a good camp, but the Ravens have to tone down some of his hits on offensive players that border on being late. He could be the vocal leader of this team in the future.
He is one of the players the Ravens have to keep under control. Two other players in that group are running back Terrance West (Towson University) and kicker Justin Tucker.
West has been the best running back in camp with his sudden bursts and change of direction. He just has to stay grounded because off-the-field concerns and poor work habits have hurt him in previous NFL stops.
Cornerbacks impress
Veteran wide receiver Steve Smith was on the sideline chatting with reporters Wednesday and said he liked young cornerbacks Tavon Young and Sheldon Price. Young is the team's fourth-round pick out of Temple and Price was on the developmental squad last year.
Price has good size at 6-2 and 194 pounds, and closes well on both running and passing plays.
Smith also said he thought defensive lineman Kapron Lewis-Moore was having a strong camp.
When asked when he might return, Smith said it was a day-to-day decision.
Translation: When the first regular season game is near, Smith will start playing. Veterans want to participate in training camp as little as possible.
Lose that play
During a third-and-three situation Wednesday, the Ravens ran their famed pitch around right end which surprised no one. They were famous for running that play in similar situations last season.
I think coach John Harbaugh should outlaw the play on any third-down calls fore the rest of the season.
When push comes to shove
It's apparent that receivers Mike Wallace and Dobson Collins have learned how to push off to get separation from defensive backs. I have never seen so much shoving by this group in a training camp practice.
Meanwhile, receiver Michael Campanaro continues to have a strong camp. If he can stay healthy, there are few linebackers or No. 3 cornerbacks or safeties who can cover him in the slot.
Special guests
Special guests at practice Wednesday were former team president David Modell and former Ravens outside linebacker Adalius Thomas.
Thomas still resides in Maryland and owns a restaurant in Ellicott City. He spent a lot of time looking at second year outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith, who reminds many in the organization of a young Thomas.
Modell spent most of the practice sitting with team general manager and long-time friend Ozzie Newsome.
Practice, practice, practice
The second week of training camp is usually the longest and worst of the season for the players.
Everyone is excited about the first week and the preseason opens during the third. But in the second week, it's just practice, practice, practice.
Something to prove
Cornerback Jimmy Smith says he believes the secondary will prove a lot of people wrong this year. I hope so because this group has been bad for so long.
"That just gives us a chip," Smith said. "You guys write your stories and it's not like we don't hear it, so we're going to play with a chip on our shoulder. We see what people say, we see where we're ranked, but we know what type of group we have. We know what we can do and we know what we're capable of. I think this year we're going to prove people wrong."