Patriots Notebook

With Miami bearing down, rookie Pryor is next in line

By Adam Kilgore

Globe Staff / November 8, 2009

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FOXBOROUGH - In his first days as a rookie defensive tackle, the size of the Patriots playbook awed Myron Pryor. “It’s kind of terrifying,’’ he said. But he learned all of it, or at least most of it. After the Patriots made Pryor inactive for Week 1, he has played in every game since.

Pryor’s progression will reach a new level today, when the Patriots will face the rugged Dolphins offense without starting defensive end Jarvis Green (knee surgery), leaving Pryor and fellow rookie Ron Brace as the only reserves. Brace has not played since Week 2, making Pryor, suddenly, the top backup.

“It’s a big week for them,’’ said Mike Wright, who will replace Green in the starting lineup. “But it’s always a big week for them. When those guys get in there, they’ll be ready. They practice just as much as the older guys. We’ve got trust in them, just like coaches have trust in them.’’

Pryor, a sixth-round pick from Kentucky, will be counted upon. The Dolphins have a pair of bruising backs - Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown - running behind a strong offensive line led by center Jake Grove and left tackle Jake Long. The Patriots’ defensive scheme demands linemen who take on those blocks, a taxing style that requires frequent substitution.

“You always have to study hard and learn all this stuff,’’ Pryor said. “You can’t afford to make a mistake. You can’t afford to lose an edge or a step. It’s always important, even as a rookie. Coach was saying, if you’re this far, you’re not a rookie no more.

“I feel like you have to take it to that next level and just learn what you have to do. There’s no room for a mistake.’’

Easy targets?

When the Dolphins selected Vontae Davis and Sean Smith in the first two rounds of this year’s draft, they surely assumed they had plucked their cornerbacks of the future. They probably did not assume the future would arrive so quickly.

Davis and Smith began the year sharing playing time at one corner spot. But once the Dolphins lost Will Allen for the season to a left knee injury, they both became starters. Last week against the Jets marked the first time in franchise history that two rookie cornerbacks started for Miami.

Tom Brady throwing to Wes Welker and Randy Moss would seemingly be an overwhelming mismatch against such a callow pair. But Welker contends they will pose a hurdle.

“It’s a different situation,’’ Welker said. “The front seven that they have and the type of athletic ability that those corners have, it’s going to be a challenge for us. They’ve got a veteran-type team and they’re playing good football. So we’re going to have to bring our best game just to have an opportunity to win.’’

Because Davis and Smith are both physically imposing, the Dolphins employ loads of bump-and-run coverage meant to throw off the timing of patterns. The corners are “young guys that are hungry,’’ Welker said. “And I definitely think we’re going to have our hands full against them.’’

Throw him in there

With the Patriots still in search of a third reliable wide receiver, Sam Aiken may have an opportunity to step forward. Aiken is such a force on special teams that he’s typecast, and his skill as a receiver becomes an afterthought.

“It gives me the opportunity to get in there and make plays,’’ Aiken said of the current void at wideout. “I was brought here as a special teams player. But they also saw the other side of me, that I can play receiver.’’

Aiken is on pace for a career season catching the ball. He has caught seven passes for 122 yards, including a 54-yarder against Tampa Bay, the longest pass play of the Patriots season.

At 6 feet 2 inches, 215 pounds, Aiken is a physical runner after he catches the ball, and the Patriots like to use him on short screens.

Put the mop away

The Patriots are not expecting a third consecutive blowout, so backup quarterback Brian Hoyer’s string of seeing action likely will end. Hoyer, who went from an undrafted free agent to being the only quarterback on the roster behind Tom Brady, played in the past two games. “I know it’s just mop-up duty and I’m not trying to get ahead of myself, but game experience, regardless of if it’s the preseason or regular season, is better than anything you get in practice,’’ he said . . . The Patriots are 7-2 after byes under Belichick.