It's hot, humid, and sweat is pouring down their faces. On a day when most people are cooped up somewhere with air conditioning, Ravens outside linebackers Edgar Jones and Antwan Barnes are running in the heat, dropping about 10 pounds of water weight a day.
And they love every minute of it.
With Pro Bowl outside linebacker Terrell Suggs probably sitting out the preseason because of his franchise-player designation, Jones, Barnes and veteran linebacker Gary Stills have been getting most of the repetitions as Suggs' replacement.
While Stills is the most experienced of the three, he is probably drawing the least interest because he is one of two Ravens' special teams aces. Also, Jones and Barnes are second-year players who are ready to excel.
A year ago, both made the roster as reserves and played sparingly. Now, at least for the moment, the Ravens are asking them to become specialized starters.
"Obviously, you wish Suggs was here," Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan said. "But since he isn't, those two guys can't get enough reps. Barnes is an explosive athlete who has got to get better in the running game, not where he is just on the field for a play.
"Edgar has come a long way, from a small college, and he just keeps getting better every day," Ryan said. "I think he can become a good one."
Barnes was the Ravens' fourth-round pick out of Florida International in April 2007. Despite Barnes' school-record 23 career sacks for the Golden Panthers, NFL teams backed off because he was only 6 feet 1 and 240 pounds.
The Ravens didn't. They don't care whether their linebackers are undersized, as long as they can run to the ball. Ray Lewis isn't overly big, and neither is Bart Scott. But they have explosiveness, great instincts and a passion for the game.
So does Barnes.
Last season, he played in 14 games but didn't do so regularly on defense until late in the season. He finished with eight tackles, including two sacks, and had several quarterback hurries.
Barnes will see more playing time on defense early this season. With Trevor Pryce in the middle, the Ravens can use any combination of blitzing linebackers on the outside - or inside for that matter - with Barnes and Scott and Suggs. It can create many problems for offenses, especially in pass protection.
But the Ravens want him to be more than just a pass-rushing specialist. As training camp opened yesterday for the full squad, Barnes was in the lineup on first and second downs. He was also lining up at strong-side linebacker, opposite the tight end.
