Performs go awry. Opponents rating touchdowns. The Chargers even can lose an in depth recreation, however by way of each on-field adversity, Derwin James Jr. calmly appears to be like at Daiyan Henley and reminds the second-year linebacker that they’ve conquered tougher issues collectively.
They consider the combined martial arts exercises at a West Hollywood health club the place they grappled, wrestled and tackled till their lungs burned and muscle groups ached.
The place they, because the identify of the health club suggests, grew to become “unbreakable.”
The place they plotted Henley’s breakout yr that’s starting to take form.
“Everything he wants is right in front of him,” stated James, the workforce’s star security. “He can be, man, one of the best linebackers in this league.”
After a forgettable rookie season wherein the third-round decide totaled simply 10 tackles, Henley has grown right into a breakout star of the Chargers’ resurgent protection. The previous Crenshaw Excessive standout leads the NFL’s No. 1-ranked scoring protection with 99 tackles, together with 5 consecutive video games with double-digit stops, the longest streak by a Charger for the reason that flip of the century. With 10 or extra tackles in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Henley would tie the longest streak since 2000 for any participant in his first two NFL seasons.
Henley is a stout drive in opposition to the run recreation. He can drop again in move protection and has 5 move breakups. He is a continuing presence on particular groups.
Chargers security Derwin James Jr., left, and linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) sort out Ravens working again Derrick Henry throughout a recreation earlier this season.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
“He’s that new-age linebacker that can really do it all,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter stated.
Jim Harbaugh observed Henley’s distinctive mix of measurement, power and pace virtually instantly when the brand new coach and his workers took over within the offseason. He was in awe that the 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker ran like a security.
The comparability just isn’t removed from actuality. After starting at Nevada as a large receiver, Henley transitioned to security for the Wolf Pack. He grew right into a first-team All-Pac-12 linebacker at Washington State as a graduate switch earlier than the Chargers chosen him eighty fifth within the 2023 draft.
Henley earned raves throughout his rookie preseason that featured 14 tackles and one interception in three video games, however he was quickly forgotten in former coach Brandon Staley’s protection. He performed simply 54 defensive snaps as a rookie.
As he stood on the sideline, doubt began creeping in. Henley questioned if he belonged at this stage. He questioned what he was missing and what he wasn’t doing properly sufficient.
“I just wanted more, wanted to be better, wanted to prove myself,” Henley stated. “So getting to the offseason, I was dedicated to just improving myself.”
Henley was referred to a shiny pink health club in West Hollywood by his uncle. When he discovered that James additionally skilled at Unbreakable, which was based by Fox Sports activities NFL insider Jay Glazer, they began syncing their exercise schedules.
They tangled in grueling MMA exercises. Henley, 10 kilos heavier and an inch shorter, claims he by no means misplaced any head-to-head bouts. James contends that in a single session, he pushed Henley all the way in which off the mat earlier than the linebacker unfairly tried to sling him out of the ring.
“First of all, you shouldn’t be pushing anybody out, because that’s not the point of the session,” an incredulous Henley stated when offered with James’ recollections of their coaching. “See, he’s exposing himself.”
First, the pair went by way of two assigned rounds that Henley dominated, he stated. James then proposed a 3rd spherical wherein the All-Professional security shoved Henley, who responded by making use of the coaching strategy of utilizing an opponent’s weight in opposition to him. Each acknowledge that James, who began coaching on the health club earlier, had the higher hand in stamina.
“Once he started to get it, he was tougher,” stated James, who refers to Henley as his “little bro.” “He’s a beast.”
The coaching has translated to the sphere, the place the foundations of leverage, getting low and physique positioning nonetheless apply to tackling, James stated. Since lacking 4 tackles in opposition to Arizona, when he was taking part in whereas sporting a restrictive shoulder and elbow sling after injuring his elbow in opposition to Kansas Metropolis in Week 4, Henley has missed simply 4 within the final 5 video games whereas amassing 61 tackles.
When he was tangling with James on the mat, Henley by no means thought-about how a lot of an affect the coaching would have on the sphere.
“It makes me understand why DJ is elite at tackling,” Henley stated.
This season James grew to become the quickest defensive again since 2000 to succeed in 500 profession tackles. A workforce captain for the fourth consecutive season, James has influenced Henley past their shared exercises. They bonded additional over an offseason journey to Tokyo, the place they gorged on sushi and wagyu beef. They dreamed what they needed to perform this season beneath a brand new teaching workers.
Henley stated he by no means received readability from the earlier coaches about his position. It doesn’t matter. Incomes the help and perception from his veteran teammates is extra vital.
“I just want to prove to them that I’m legit,” Henley stated.
The smile on James’ face when requested about Henley’s development exhibits the Chargers’ younger star has achieved what he hoped.
