At 6-1 and some 317 pounds, it’s difficult to be meek. It’s not easy to tiptoe quietly anywhere at that size, particularly when you’ve been selected as the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

This was Dewayne Robertson a year ago.

The Jets defensive tackle was a 21-year-old rookie who, as Herman Edwards said, should have been hanging out in the “student union” at his age rather than taking on the NFL’s best offensive linemen.

But that was the path Robertson chose and the rookie season results weren’t what anyone had hoped. He started all 16 games, but had little impact as a disruptive, run-stopping force in the middle.

That, Robertson said rather boldly yesterday, will change this season.

“My goal is to come in and just dominate this year,” Robertson said yesterday, displaying a confidence in his voice not heard last year.

Asked to define “dominate,” Robertson said, “Can’t nobody block me.”

Now that would be just what the Jets coaches ordered for their defense, which ranked 28th against the run in 2003.

“I played 16 games in the NFL and played against guys like Larry Allen,” Robertson said. “Just going against those guys, I’m pretty much ready to go out and dominate.”

Robertson said it was a blessing to be forced into starting right away, even though he wasn’t ready.

“It helped getting throw out there into that fire,” he said. “You get all kinds of experience just by being out there – even if you’re swimming and drowning sometimes. You’ve got to learn to crawl before you walk.”

Robertson, who played at about 318 last year, said his goal is to be between 305 and 310 by the time the regular season begins.

“This year, I’m more confident, because I went through the ropes of learning the NFL and pretty much learned what to expect,” Robertson said. “Last year, I didn’t know what to expect. I was kind of feeling my way around, learning the game. This year, I’m more confident. The expectations are going to be even higher, because people will say, ‘He had a year to learn.’ ”

Asked how he believes he did last season, Robertson said, “I feel I did all right . . . for a rookie draft pick. But not as good as everyone else expected.”

Edwards said he’s seeking consistency out of Robertson as much as anything.

“What he went through last year was a growing process,” Edwards said. “He has the ability to flash and play some great snaps for you, but if you’re going to be a 45-play player you have to be consistent and still have some great plays in there.

“He’s been in the league for a year and he has gone through everything. He has an awareness of what people are going to try to do to him. Dewayne has looked at himself very objectively. He wants to be one of the better players in the league.”

As several reporters hovered around Robertson chatting, Jets boisterous defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson yelled over, “Tell ’em how good you are.”

In what was a clear departure from his rather meek, soft-spoken demeanor as a rookie, Robertson did just that.