Henley’s Plan to Keep Playing Is on Schedule

Darryl Henley figures he wasn’t supposed to last this long or play this well, and if the Rams’ Big Plan at cornerback is being delayed as a result, well, Henley isn’t broken up about it.

His big plan, detoured and damaged in seasons past, is on schedule.

Henley knows the right cornerback spot was practically given away months ago to No. 1 draft pick Todd Lyght. That plan was sidetracked--temporarily, it was believed--when Lyght held out of training camp.

So all summer long little Darryl Henley was knocking down, deflecting and grabbing passes, doing everything the Rams thought he could before injuries dampened his 1990 campaign, before the new defensive staff was brought in this off-season, before Lyght was taken with the fifth pick overall.

Now that Lyght is finally ready to claim the job, the Rams have a bit of problem trying to figure out how to get their $1.1-million-a-year rookie some playing time; Henley is playing far too well to have his time reduced.

It’s a situation Henley takes great pride in having created.

“Yeah, I think I’m a big, big thorn in their sides right now,” Henley said with a smile. “I guess it’s a good problem to have as a defensive coach . . . For John (Robinson), who knows?

“I almost feel like some people are waiting for me to fall off. Actually, I do feel like that. There’s some people probably waiting for things to change, and when that happens, it’ll be, ‘Aww, it took longer than expected.’

“Because I heard stuff, my second or third game of the year, Todd’s going to be starting. What can you do? Complain about it? Yeah, what good is that going to do?

“Just play, all I can do is play.”

In five games, Henley, in his third year and first as a full-time starter, has been the Rams’ best coverage man in their new man-to-man scheme. He leads the team with two interceptions and seven passes defensed and has not been beaten for a touchdown pass.

But despite his play, and his coaches’ praise, Henley the realist believes his days might be numbered.

“I’m a real person (a proven player), Todd’s a first-round pick,” Henley said. “Todd makes a whole lot of money. Todd’s a good player, and once he learns and adjusts, he’ll be even better. That’s why John has said Todd’s got to play to get better.

“So what do you do? You’ve got to play that guy--got to. You’ve got to play him because he’s your No. 1. And who goes out when you play him?

“Do you move out a four-year All-Pro in (left cornerback) Jerry Gray? Say ‘Hey, you’ve been a great corner here for years, but Todd’s going to split time with you’?

“Or do you come to me, a second-round pick in his third year, who has been in and out, had a major injury last year and hasn’t done a whole lot and this year has been doing real well?

“I mean, if it’s not broken, do we fix it?

“I’d hate to be in their situation. But then again, some people would hate to be in mine.”

Secondary coach Tom Bettis says he isn’t surprised by Henley’s crisp early play, but Bettis also emphasizes that the Rams eventually must find a way to get Lyght into the game more than in just nickel situations.

“I think competition brings out either the good or bad in somebody,” Bettis said of Henley. “And I think it’s brought the good out in him. The way I look at it, you cannot have enough good corners, because they are rare to find. Good, solid corners who can give it to you play in and play out. We’ve got a quality situation. The corner situation here should be in pretty good hands for a long time.”

Henley has been through enough in his short NFL career to understand that the best does not always happen, particularly if you are not a No. 1 pick.

In 1990, Henley was penciled in to be the starting right cornerback, then suffered a hip injury that sidelined him for all of training camp and the first seven weeks of the regular season.

When he did come back, Henley was still wobbly, but the defense was in desperate straits and he had to play. Henley gave up some big plays while playing through the injury, but figured once he had a full off-season to rest, he’d be back for a breakout 1991 season.

Then the new defensive staff came in.

“Jeff (Fisher, the new defensive coordinator) may deny it now . . . but when they came in, I don’t think I was going to be a key player,” Henley said.

“Like any coach should, they’re going to bring players in to supply their defense. They brought in Rodney (Thomas) and Sam (Lilly, both via Plan B), who are really good players, fine players.

“And it was a battle against them, and then as soon as things seemed to look good, then Todd got drafted.

“It was like, ‘ What is going on here? What are they trying to tell me?’ John was saying to me, ‘Don’t take it personally.’ But how can you not? You’ve got to take something like that personally.”

Henley figured they were telling him his services were no longer needed, and he began thinking about other teams, other possibilities, other places where his plan could take place.

“Man, that stuff has an effect on you,” Henley said. “I used to think I could handle this and that, but that stuff has an effect on you, big time.”

But for now, Henley will just keep on playing, keep on trying to delay the Rams’ plan, keep on following his own.

“I’m having more fun than I’ve ever had,” Henley said. “I really am. I think a lot of that is youth.

“I’m having fun now, and I think we’re just going to get better and better and better. I think the thorn will be in the side of whomever for a long, long time.”

Then Henley stops, and laughs a devilish laugh.

“Who knows, maybe one of us won’t be here at the end of the year,” Henley said. “Who knows?”