Jalen Collins reflects on larger role

Cornerback Jalen Collins played 50 snaps Sunday against Tampa Bay — the most played by any Falcons cornerback in the team’s 23-20 overtime loss.

Although Collins didn’t record any stats Sunday to add to his six tackles this season, Collins said he was ready for action.

“I did see a lot of time,” Collins said. “I was out there, and I had to step up. We didn’t really see a lot of tips my way, and I was still ready.”

Collins, a second-round NFL Draft pick this year out of LSU, made his first professional start against the Titans on Oct. 25, playing 67 snaps on defense and helping hold the Titans to 179 passing yards in the Falcons’ 10-7 win.

Defensive coordinator Richard Smith said that the time Collins spent on the field Sunday was invaluable.

“When you have a young rookie like that, every snap, he’s going to get better,” Smith said. “There’s some things that you can do as a coach in a classroom or (when) you’re watching film, but where you really get the experience is going out and doing it.”

Coach Dan Quinn said after watching Collins on Sunday, he thinks that Collins’ technique and competitiveness on the field has improved since the beginning of the season.

“We were really pleased with Jalen Collins,” Quinn said. “There wasn’t a lot of action that went over his way (Sunday), but we’ve kind of been expecting him to (improve as) he has.”

Collins said preparation for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers didn’t differ from what he does normally. He said he’s enjoyed spending more time on the field in recent weeks, proving what he can do.

On Sunday, Collins and the Falcons’ defense will face a 49ers offense that made several changes this week.

The Falcons’ will miss a familiar face at tight end after 10-year veteran Vernon Davis was traded to the Broncos on Monday. The running back position will look different after Reggie Bush underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday to repair an MCL tear.

Most recently, 49ers coach Jim Tomsula announced Wednesday that the team will start Blaine Gabbert at quarterback instead of Colin Kaepernick.

Collins said that the Falcons feel like whoever plays quarterback will not determine what type of offense the 49ers (2-6) will run.

“This is the NFL, so everyone is the best of the best,” Collins said. “(We) still have to prepare like it’s a great quarterback.”

The Falcons (6-2) aren’t too focused on the 49ers’ offensive changes this week. Collins said the defense will not prepare for a specific quarterback, but will prepare for the offense as a whole.

“We’re just going to prepare for the offense that they run,” Collins said. “No matter the quarterback that they have, they’re still going to run the plays that they run (and do) what they like to do.”

Collins said he’s focused on preparing to show what he and other young members of the secondary are made of.