Rookie lineman Gradkowski getting a crash course from Ravens center Matt Birk

4th-round pick learning from the player he may one day replace in the lineup

"A player can give him some ins and outs through his career, and it's not just football," Harbaugh said. "It's probably how to approach becoming a pro and all that. It's really important. It's also important to have a great O-line coach. Andy Moeller does a great job. All those young offensive linemen are benefiting from the veterans, and the veterans are benefiting from the young offensive linemen pushing them. We have a good situation there."

Birk said he has already noticed Gradkowski making strides in his grasp of the blocking schemes and formations and developing a foundation upon which to build. That should come in handy for Gradkowski, but the 23-year-old younger brother of Bengals quarterback Bruce Gradkowski isn't buying into the hype that he is Birk's heir apparent.

"I don't really think about it too much," he said. "Matt Birk is one of the greatest centers in the game today, and he's been in the game for a long time. So I know I still have a long way to go before I can fill his shoes. I try not to think about it like that, because Matt's a great player and I still have a long way to go."

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