Ram Thorn Henley Is Playing Like a Rose : Pro football: Cornerback is foiling the team’s plan to replace him with top draft pick Lyght.

Darryl Henley knows he wasn’t supposed to last this long or play this well, so if the Rams’ big plan at cornerback is being delayed because of it, well, Henley politely suggests he isn’t broken up about it.

His big plan, detoured and damaged in seasons past, is proceeding smoothly.

Henley’s right cornerback spot was practically handed to No. 1 pick Todd Lyght. That plan got sidetracked, only temporarily it was thought at the time, when Lyght held out during training camp.

So there was the 5-foot-9 Henley, 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, before Lyght was drafted fifth overall.

Now that Lyght gradually is getting into full-time shape--he was delayed again last week because of a sprained ankle--the Rams have a bit of a problem. They want to get Lyght, their $1.1 million-a-year rookie who matches the physical definition of an NFL cornerback, some playing time. But Henley is playing far too well for the Rams to bench him.

“Yeah, I think I’m a big, big thorn in their sides right now,” he said, smiling. “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. . . . There’s some people probably waiting for things to change, and when that happens, it’ll be, ‘Aw, it took longer than expected.’

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

“Just play. All I can do is play.”

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

With veteran right cornerback Jerry Gray struggling with the man-to-man scheme--Gray gave up two touchdown passes on blitzes last week against the San Diego Chargers--Henley has become a defensive anchor.

Even so, Henley, the realist, says that his days as a starter may be numbered.

“I’m a real person,” Henley said. “Todd’s a first-round pick. 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? (And) 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 early play, but Bettis also says the Rams eventually must find a way to get Lyght into games as more than a nickel back.

“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.”

Back in 1990, Henley was expected to be the starting right cornerback. Then a hip injury somewhat similar to Bo Jackson’s sidelined Henley for all of training camp and the first seven weeks of the regular season.

When he came 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 he figured once he had a full off-season to rest, he would 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 through 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 he was being told his services no longer were needed, and he began thinking about other teams, other possibilities, other places where his plan could develop.

“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’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.”