WESTMINSTER, Md. -- With the HBO cameras filming for a weekly documentary on the team, Ravens coach Brian Billick unleashed his defense for a few live plays of hitting Tuesday. Not since the Jaws trilogy has this cable network acquired film rights to such a feeding frenzy.

Ray Lewis charged in from the middle. Jamie Sharper and Peter Boulware converged from the outside. Whether it was Jamal Lewis or Chris Barnes, backs were reminded that stepping foot into a defense that hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 37 games has its perils. Inspired by the action, defenders wanted to know if the quarterback could be included in target practice.

	Elvis Grbac threw for 4,169 yards last season, including 28 toucdowns.

"That may be the best defense ever," Billick said. "What astounds me is they have gone 37 games without allowing a 100-yard game where the next closest is 11, which is the Giants. And this came in a division that, as a whole, has the best core of running backs in the NFL, Eddie George, Jerome Bettis, Corey Dillon, Fred Taylor. That's an impressive number."

Unlike Redskins coach Marty Schottenheimer, who has 24 padded practiced scheduled in training camp, Billick only lets his team don the pads eight times. It's a matter of preservation. From Billick to defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis, the mission this summer is to fast forward to the regular season without getting anyone hurt. Ten of 11 defensive starters are back.

Still, there is one noticeable difference in this year's Ravens team, and it has nothing to do with defense. Elvis is in the house. In early camp when defensive schemes are basic and blitz packages haven't been installed, former Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac is using the entire field to complete passes against the NFL's record setting defense.

Last year, the Ravens won in spite of the quarterback position. Tony Banks had the arm to complete passes outside the numbers on the football field, but sometimes his game would short circuit throwing into the middle of the field. Trent Dilfer worked the middle of the field better, but he restricted his offense to mostly handoffs and a few big plays.

"I think Elvis combines the best of what Trent and Tony did," Billick said. "Trent was capable of doing more, but he didn't have to do it last year. Elvis is the complete package."

More importantly, he's already being accepted by the Ravens, an issue that led to his separation with the Chiefs. Even though he started with the 49ers, Grbac's career has mostly revolved around playing for defensive teams coached by former defensive coordinators. Marty Schottheimer and Gunther Cunningham believed defenses won championships. That mentality carried through to the team.

"There was such a division between the offense and defense you can sense," said Grbac of his days with the Chiefs. "The philosophy was to let the defense win the game and not let the offense screw it up."

Tuesday afternoon was important for Grbac's transition into the Ravens. He had lunch with Ray Lewis and Shannon Sharpe, the team's two strong leaders. Since before last year's murder trial, Lewis and Sharpe have become close friends. During the trial, Sharpe was there to emotionally support Lewis. During the offseason, their families spent countless days together in Orlando training and getting ready for the season.

That bond will make it easy for Grbac to get through any hard times. What the heck, the Ravens survived 21 quarters without an offensive touchdowns plus a quarterback change last year and won the Super Bowl. With the leader of the offense and defense being tight, Grbac feels welcome.

"It's a great defense but you don't sense that the players think they are better than you," Grbac said. "They care about us. There are no divisions between offense and defense."

	“	I think Elvis combines the best of what Trent and Tony did. Trent was capable of doing more, but he didn't have to do it last year. Elvis is the complete package. ”
		— Brian Billick on new Ravens quarterback Elvis Grbac

Said Siragusa, "We enjoy life. We enjoy playing. We have one goal, which is going to the Super Bowl again."

Siragusa, Lewis and the defenders believe their early looks at Grbac can only make them better on defense. He throws a nice deep ball, both with distance and air under it that stretches their coverages. He is accurate over the middle of the field. At 6-5, Grbac stands tall in the pocket. And when they put pressure on him, Grbac has the running ability to move and not get tackled.

"It's easier to know who is going to be the starter," Siragusa said. "If he can score points, we are happy as hell. If we aren't on the field as much, that's great. He looks pretty smooth. He acts like a professional."

As does Ray Lewis. In the first week of training camp, Lewis is showing regular-season intensity. His weight is in the 240s. Marv Lewis, his defensive coordinator, praises him for evolving his game in passing situations. He's making the perfect drops and being in position to break up passes. Ray Lewis is on a mission.

"I don't want to be in the same breath as every middle linebacker," Lewis said. "When the first breath comes out of a person's mouth, I want them to say, `Ray Lewis was the best middle linebacker they've ever seen.' I want them to say that he can do this and he can do that. I want my game to have no weaknesses."

Lewis and Sharpe spent more time than ever running in Orlando. For at least an hour or an hour and a half a day, Lewis kept running sprints. He'd run 12 or 16 200s. He'd run four or five 400s. Being Defensive Player of the Year was one accomplishment. Lewis wants to be the best ever, and not having to deal with a murder trial has given him extra time to improve his game.

"People look at me and say how did you do that," Lewis said of his MVP type season. "My mind completely gave everything to God. I didn't worry about what was said. The previous year, I didn't have the leisure time to run. I just did lifting. But as you get older and your body starts to mature, you feel like you don't want to carry so much weight."

With the trial behind him, Lewis doesn't feel as though he's also carrying the weight of the world.

"I'd like to change the middle linebacker position to where it's not just hard hits," Lewis said. "I want people to stay he can over and that he can come rushing the quarterback. That's my focus right now -- hustle, passing, running people down. I want people who don't know who I was watch me and say, `Wow, he's all over the field.' That's my passion."

On the field, it shows.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.