At the end of one of the Baltimore Ravens' offseason workouts, first-year coach Jesse Minter rolled out two 16-pound medicine balls to get his point across. In an impromptu battle, rookie guard Olaivavega Ioane threw the ball farther than linebacker Zion Young, forcing defensive players to do pushups. The contests, called "At our best, when our best is needed," are kept secret until announced at practice's end, including relays and sled pushes.

Minter's mantra, "Be The Best," is displayed in silver lettering near the practice field, a variation of John Wooden's saying. He replaced John Harbaugh, fired after 18 seasons, because Baltimore has underachieved in playoffs despite regular-season success with Lamar Jackson. Minter's calm, collected style differs from Harbaugh's intense leadership.

Minter moved practices to morning to avoid heat and cut them short, a major shift from Harbaugh's hard-working approach. Players say positive vibes stem from his encouraging words, putting an arm around players to correct mistakes. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman noted, "He's very [focused on] connecting the team right now. I think that's something that we needed."