49ers’ Greenlaw after flashes of greatness last year: ‘I’m only gonna get better’
It was apparent last offseason linebacker Dre Greenlaw had a chance to contribute to the 49ers as a rookie.
The fifth-round pick was playing with the starters through spring practices and OTAs while starter Kwon Alexander was working back from an ACL tear suffered the previous season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The first snap of training camp’s first padded practice ended with Greenlaw making a tackle behind the line of scrimmage on a running play. He diagnosed it quickly, shot through his gap in traffic and wrapped up the running back with a forceful hit.
It was an example of his nose for the ball, and it caught the attention of his teammates on the practice field.
“He’s not timid,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said after the practice. “(He’s) a rookie that’s going to go in there and shoot his guns on the very first play of practice. I think that’s impressive and I think he can build from that.”
Build from that he did. Greenlaw’s impressive offseason foreshadowed an even better rookie campaign that San Francisco could not have expected from the little-known prospect from Arkansas.
Greenlaw filled in for Alexander during the second half of the season when Alexander went on injured reserve to repair a torn pectoral after the Halloween victory in Arizona. The 49ers didn’t miss a beat, though Alexander’s leadership was missed before his return in the playoffs.
Greenlaw made the biggest defensive play of the season when he stopped Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister inches short of the goal line in Seattle during Week 17 to wrap up the NFC West and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
“Really, I’m just exited for next season,” Greenlaw said. “Now that I know I can do it once, I’m excited to do it over and over again.”
He finished his first campaign second on the 49ers with 92 tackles. He also had an overtime interception of Russell Wilson in November which would have been San Francisco’s second-biggest defensive play of the year had the 49ers made a game-winning field goal.
Greenlaw enters 2020 with high expectations, much like other other two prominent members of his draft class, Nick Bosa and Deebo Samuel, who were all critical in last year’s eventful run to the Super Bowl.
“It definitely gave me a big confidence booster,” Greenlaw said during a video conference Wednesday. “And it also just helped me to know that I’m able to not only play in the NFL but it also gave me a boost for seasons to come and I’m excited just to continue to grow and build off my first year. I feel like I’m only gonna get better from here on out.”
Statistically, Greenlaw was San Francisco’s most sound tackler. He didn’t miss a single tackle on running plays, according to Pro Football Focus, and finished third among all NFL linebackers in attempted tackles per miss (21.5) behind only Luke Kuechly (23.3) and Corey Littleton (126.0).
Tackling well is a byproduct of instincts, preparation and confidence, which were apparent in Greenlaw to the 49ers coaching staff at the Senior Bowl well before the draft. Greenlaw played for the North team while Kyle Shanahan and Co. coached the South.
Linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans, a 10-year linebacker for the Texans and Eagles, got a feel for Greenlaw during the week of practice in Mobile, Alabama, that helped Greenlaw transition into San Francisco’s defense quickly.
“(Ryans) just kind of helped develop me into being more comfortable and more confident on the field and I think that all kind of correlates to being able to make tackles and being confident in making those tackles,” said Greenlaw. “I understand not only my assignments but I understand the technique that he wants me to play and he allowed me to use my instincts a lot.”
With Greenlaw firmly established a one of the 49ers’ three starting linebackers in base packages, it’s his responsibility to learn both outside linebacker spots, the “Sam” and “Will,” alongside middle linebacker Fred Warner.
What isn’t clear is which position Greenlaw will play. He played “Will” throughout last season while filling in for Alexander and stayed on the weak side when Alexander returned in the playoffs. Alexander made the switch to “Sam” linebacker which generally lines up on the same side of the formation as the tight end.
Greenlaw is spending the offseason learning the intricacies of both outside linebacker positions while spending time in Houston and Arkansas to get his workouts in.
“The process for each position is very similar,” Greenlaw said. “Strong side and weak side, you kind of do some of the same things, just opposite technique on certain plays. So one play we might have technique where the ‘Will’ has got to play and then that same play, the ‘Sam’ might play on the opposite technique and vice versa. So in order to learn the defense, you’ve got to know both positions and the positions are kind of similar to each other.”
What Greenlaw has to guard against is the sophomore slump, which can happen when promising rookies enter their second seasons complacent with what they did the year prior. It’s often why so many players try to ignore the outside noise.
“I don’t look into what people’s expectations are for me. I look into the expectations for myself,” Greenlaw said. “As long as I go out there and I’m having fun and flying around, I know I’m going to be able to make plays and be able to have fun with my teammates and celebrate with them.”