He didn't approach drills casually. Not that he ever did. But for Rob Morris, his seventh off-season in the NFL had unusual importance for an experienced veteran.

Because in one sense, he’s not so experienced at all.

“There are a lot of things I have to learn,” Morris said during the Colts’ recent four-week summer-school program, which concluded this past Wednesday at the team’s Training Facility in Indianapolis.

A learning curve?

For an eight-year veteran?

Absolutely, Morris said, and for a simple reason:

Although Morris, the Colts’ first-round selection in the 2000 NFL Draft, is one of the most familiar names and faces on the roster, and although he has started 74 NFL regular- and postseason games, he is in a very real sense, a second-year player.

At his new position, anyway.

Morris, after spending his career as a middle linebacker, moved late last season to the strong side, where he will enter training camp as the Colts’ starter.

“Really, for me, it’s not so much the meeting time and the walkthroughs, although those are good,” Morris said. “For me, it’s being out there out on the field practicing full speed.

“That really helps me the most.”

Morris, who started at middle linebacker from 2001-2004, spent the 2005 season as a backup at the position, then remained a backup for three months last season.

But in December, with the defense struggling to stop the run, Morris was inserted into the lineup at strong-side backer.

He started the last three regular-season games at the spot.

He started all four postseason games there, too.

And in the postseason, the Colts – who ranked 32nd among 32 NFL teams against the run in the regular season with 173 yards per game allowed – led the league in rushing defense, allowing more than 100 yards just once in four games.

Safety Bob Sanders was one reason for the improvement.

But Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy and President Bill Polian each said after the season Morris’ play was, too.

“He really typifies what you preach as a coach,” Dungy said. “You preach to give your best and be ready whenever the opportunity arises and really be a team player. Rob has done that. Whatever job he has had, he’s done it very well and really led by example. You can preach that as a coach, but to see it, that means more to the players when you can point and say, 'This is what it’s all about.’’’

Now, entering his eighth NFL training camp, Morris is starting again.

This time, he’s starting at strong side.

“He’s still learning the new position, and I think we had just the right amount of time with him here,” Dungy said. “It’s exciting for him, and really a new challenge. He’s really fine-turning what he built on last year. I know it has been fun, and he has had a twinkle in his eye about being here and getting it done.”

Counting the seven games he played there last season, how many games has Morris played on the strong side? Seven, he said with a laugh.

“Never played until last season,” said Morris, the second-most experienced player on the Colts’ defense behind defensive tackle Anthony “Booger” McFarland. “This is really my first time really practicing at this position.

“There are a lot of things I have to learn. There are some things I’m pretty good at and some things I’m not so good at. This is a good time to work on those things.”

Which is what Morris said he tried to do during the team’s recent mini-camps and summer-school sessions – that, after missing the team’s last two summer-school sessions. He was unsigned in 2005 and was finishing his degree at Brigham Young University last off-season. This season, he attended to work with a young defense on which he is suddenly very much a leader.

The Colts this off-season lost several veteran leaders. Linebacker Cato June signed with Tampa Bay. Cornerback Nick Harper signed with Tennessee. Defensive tackle Montae Reagor signed with Philadelphia. Cornerback Jason David signed with New Orleans.

How much the departures will impact a defense that improved drastically in the postseason Morris said he’s not sure.

“We’re young,” Morris said. “We’re real young. A lot of people say, ‘Well, they’re young and that’s a bad thing.’ I’m not so sure it’s a bad thing. (Cornerbacks) Kelvin (Hayden) and Marlin (Jackson) have big-game experience – the biggest game experience. (Safety) Matt Giordano has played a lot. (Safeties) Bob (Sanders) and Antoine (Bethea) have played.

“We have young guys, but we don’t have a lot of inexperience. We have a lot of youth. There’s a difference.”

Just how much Morris said he will still have to learn when the season begins, he said he’s not completely sure. On the one hand, it’s a new position.

On the other hand, he said, he did play seven games there last season.

“I think the novelty has worn off, with going through the playoffs,” Morris said of the new role. “Even if the year would have ended last year and we hadn’t made that (postseason) run, I think it would have not sunken in yet. I started seven games, and that’s almost half a season. I feel like I got some experience, but it will be a learning process for me.

“I don’t look at it any different for me than playing the mike (middle) or being the backup and playing special teams. You prepare the same way for whatever happens.”

That approach, Morris said, helped him the past two seasons, which were at times difficult ones. After starting four seasons, he moved into a backup role in 2005, developing into one of the team’s top special teams players. It was a role he continued to play last season. During those two seasons, Morris – who averaged 114 tackles from 2001-2004 – had a total of 63 tackles on defense.

But at the same time, he had 42 special teams tackles – 21 in each season – and led Indianapolis in the category last season.

“You see it all over the league, and to some extent on this team: the up-and-down guys, they’re not here anymore,” Morris said.

Now, he is not only still with the Colts, with the off-season departure of cornerback Nick Harper, he became the only defensive player to predate the 2002 arrival of Dungy.

As for whether that’s a good or bad thing, Morris said he’s not sure, and neither is it something he goes around discussing much.

“I guess that’s good,” he said with a laugh. “That means somebody likes me. It’s good for me. I don’t want to say anything to anyone, because they may think about it and say, ‘Let’s get rid of that guy.’ The only thing I think of is some of these young guys don’t know how good they’ve got it here.

“I think I do. That’s why I’ve been so happy to stick around in whatever capacity.”