FAYETTEVILLE — Practice makes perfect. Dre Greenlaw knows that. The Arkansas junior linebacker was far from perfect in the first two games.
However, there was a lot to like about Greenlaw's performance at weakside linebacker in game two despite the 28-7 loss to Texas Christian.
Greenlaw was credited with 17 tackles against TCU and sits at the top of the team charts through two games with 19 total stops.
There were questions about Greenlaw's readiness going into the opener. He missed the second half of last season with a broken foot, then broke it again in the bowl game to the point that spring practice was a no go. Greenlaw missed most of preseason camp, too.
It was like everything Austin Allen has ever seen from Greenlaw, his old teammate at Fayetteville High School.
“It was like I remember when I was a senior in high school and Dre was a sophomore,” Allen said after practice Thursday. “In Dre's first game in high school, I think he made 10 tackles and had two picks. He just is going to be where the ball is every time.”
The quarterback has a simple explanation.
“It's just natural instinct,” Allen said. “Dre has great instincts of where the ball is going to be and he gets there.”
There have been reminders this week in practice. The Hogs have gone ones versus ones over the last few days.
“I think that was good for me to get things a little better,” Greenlaw said. “I didn't practice much in August and almost none of it was against the ones. I need to see that speed of our offense in practice. It gets your timing better.”
Indeed, Greenlaw's timing wasn't perfect in the TCU game. The plays that he didn't make were sometimes because he was too fast.
“The coaches did show me how I over ran a couple of plays,” Greenlaw said. “So that's right.”
Greenlaw also agreed with Allen about the nature of his play. It is instincts.
“First, I didn't know how many tackles I had against TCU,” he said. “I just see ball and hit ball. That's what my friends have always called it. I just try to get there. I guess that's what it is, instincts.”
Greenlaw is still picking up the nuances of the new 3-4 defense since he's gotten almost no practice snaps in live situations.
"I'm lost sometimes," he said. "I get confused. So I have to rely on my instincts.
"I do think I was prepared for the TCU game. The game plan was really good and we knew where the ball was going."
Greenlaw credited new defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads.
"Our preparation was good," he said. "The only problem we had was that we didn't finish the game. We did alright in some ways, but we didn't finish the game with the way we allowed those last two touchdowns. We have emphasized tackling and straining to the finish these last two days in practice."
There has been plenty of live work this week.
"I'd call it physical," Greenlaw said. "It was very frustrating to play solid for most of the game and know that we could have finished a lot better. We have to strain to the finish.
"We gave up a lot of third down conversions. We know how to stop that, do better on first and second down. If it's third and short, you didn't get it done on the first two downs. You can't give up 3 4, 5 yards on first down."
As far as the way he played, Greenlaw said some of it was fueled by the sellout crowd.
"I get energy from the crowd," he said. "I did have energy.
"I will say that it felt pretty good to get in a whole game. I'm still not in the shape that I could be in because of the lack of practice. But I'll get there. I didn't like that I missed a few tackles, but I'll get there. I'd missed a lot of practice time."
Greenlaw said the defensive line helped create opportunities to tackle. His teammates in front of him occupied blockers to keep him free.
"I thought they did a great job," he said. "Our defensive line played a very good game in front of me. All I had to do was run to the football."
Greenlaw has been able to do that ever since he got on the football field. Missing a few practices didn't change that. With a few more practices before the Texas A&M game, the sky may be the limit.
"I need these practices," he said. "I need to see the speed of the game like we've done the last couple of days."