Special teams practice usually draws yawns from fans, features little hitting and tackling, and offers the offensive and defensive starters a chance to stay back at the hotel and relax.

That wasn't the case this afternoon. Sure, starters like linebacker Bart Scott, safety Dawan Landry and wide receiver Mark Clayton took active roles on special teams because they've done that in the past. But in the John Harbaugh era, linebacker Ray Lewis, tight end Todd Heap and wide receiver Derrick Mason also attended practice. While Heap and Mason -- dressed in their uniforms -- watched from one end of the field with assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, Lewis actually took a couple reps on kickoff coverage. I can't remember the last time that happened.

On the other practice field, offensive and defensive linemen worked on their own -- refining their run-blocking schemes for the former and tweaking their pass-rushing skills for the latter. You rarely saw the offensive and/or defensive linemen working with their position coaches during special teams practice under the Brian Billick regime.

Final observation from the morning session: after practice ended, dozens of aqua-green exercise balls were taken out of boxes, and linebackers, tight ends, running backs and safeties pumped out a series of core exercises on the balls in the end zone. What's next -- tai chi in the parking lot?