It’s essentially the halfway point of the season for the Falcons’ rookie class.
Counting exhibition games, they have played or prepared for 10 games and have 10 left. They now have a body of work in the pros that can be evaluated.
Defensive end Vic Beasley, the first round pick who was taken eighth overall in the draft, has been solid. He has 15 tackles, one for a loss and is tied for the team lead with two sacks.
Beasley has rushed the passer 164 times, according to Pro Football Focus. In addition to the two sacks, he’s officially been credited with three quarterback hits and 10 hurries.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn wants his production to increase and has explained that “close doesn’t really count.”
Beasley said he rested up and watched a lot of college football over the mini-bye. He’s now ready for the second half of the 20-game season (counting exhibitions).
He’s already faced Pro Bowl tackles in Philadelphia’s Jason Peters, Dallas’ Tyron Smith and Houston’s Duane Brown.
“I just learned that I have to keep going,” said Beasley, who remains upbeat. “I’ve got to take my game to another level now that I’ve seen the level of the guys I’ve been going against.”
Falcons second-round pick Jalen Collins is starring on special teams while working on his defensive back techniques in practice.
Specials teams coordinator Keith Armstrong has Collins in one of the coveted gunner positions and he has three tackles. He’s on all of the special teams except for the punt return group.
“We are happy with his progress,” Armstrong said. “He’s starting to study it and he’s starting to digest it. He knows what he’s doing now so he can play faster. It’s getting better for him.”
Collins is in the Falcons Plan B developmental program along with a host of other rookies and practice squad players. They spend extra time with the coaching staff after practice working on their techniques.
“Then with Collins as well, playing at the end of the line, step-kicking, his techniques have really been improving,” Quinn said.
Collins missed most of the offseason after foot surgery. He struggled at times in the exhibition season, but continued to play hard through his mistakes.
“They are harping hard on our technique,” Collins said. “Eye discipline. The little things that make a difference come game time.”
Collins’ foot is healed.
“I have had no problem with the foot,” Collins said. “It’s given me no pain.”
Making the jump from college to NFL can be difficult. Falcons third-year cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford struggled in practice leading up to the season. Collins missed that time because of injuries and is playing catchup.
“It’s definitely a different world from playing in college,” Collins said. “I just have to put it all together. That’s been the toughest thing for me.”
Collins has the size that Quinn covets for the Falcons’ 4-3 under scheme. But the coaches aren’t going to put him out there until he’s ready to perform at a high level.
Running back Tevin Coleman was off to a strong start, but suffered a fractured rib in the second game against the New York Giants. He lost his starting job to Devonta Freeman, who took advantage of his absence.
Coleman has shown that’s he’s a strong and physical runner, but he had a fumble inside the red zone against New Orleans.
Wide receiver Justin Hardy, the team’s fourth-round pick and one of the stars of the exhibition season, is quietly plying his wares in practice. He has been inactive for the first six games.
Wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie, who spotted Hardy during the scouting process, felt that he had the talent to be developed.
“He’s, for one, has made a huge improvement in terms of beating man-to-man, beating press (coverage) at the line,” Quinn said. “He’s champing at the bit to get his opportunity.”
Hardy, who is working with a much more complex playbook than the system used at East Carolina, said he’s just been trying to make an impression.
“Just getting a chance to get out there and get everything down and just go hard in practice,” Hardy said. “I feel pretty good.”
Hardy admits that it has been tough at times.
“You have to make the most of it,” Hardy said. “I come from a place where if you practice hard, then the game time will come easy. That’s one of the things that I’ve always done since I was in college. That’s what I’ve been trying incorporate since I’ve been here.”
Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, the Falcons fifth-round pick, played 13 of 72 snaps (18 percent) against the Saints. He was disruptive and had a tackle.
Quinn said that he’s in line for more opportunities.
Cornerback Akeem King, a seventh-round pick, is on the practice squad. Tackle Jake Rodgers, a seventh-round pick, was waived on Sept. 4.
Free safety Robenson Therezie and running back Terron Ward made the team as undrafted rookies and have played sparingly, with Therezie making one start.
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