A month before the start of the season, Daiyan Henley stepped to the podium at The Bolt.
The second-year linebacker covered a variety of topics that August day, but the most noteworthy one was that he was in line to have a starting role on the defense.
"That is the next step ... earning that starting role," Henley said then.
Halfway through the Chargers 2024 season, it's clear Henley has done that and more on one of the NFL's top defenses.
"Being at the midway point, I think I've received more respect from my teammates. For me, that was like the most important thing when I made that statement," Henley said. "It was about getting the respect from my teammates and my coaches as well.
"I think I've made some hay as far as that, but as far as the league goes, I think it's a long way to go for me," Henley added. "I'm just steadily chasing trying to be better."
Chargers defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter said: "He's that new-age linebacker that can do it all. We're blessed to have him."
Henley took a winding route to the NFL, originally going to Nevada as a wide receiver. He then transitioned to safety before eventually settling at linebacker in 2020.
Perhaps it's no surprise then — given the 24-year-old's versatile background — that he has excelled in pass coverage so far this season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Henley ranks eighth overall among AFC linebackers with at least 300 snaps with a defensive grade of 68.6.
But his three pass breakups are tied for first in the conference while his PFF coverage grade of 71.1 ranks second.
"The biggest thing for me in pass coverage is the expectation that I should be good in pass coverage being that I was a safety at one point in my career," Henley, a 2023 third-round pick, said with a laugh. "It's like taking that expectation and bringing it to life by focusing on the past game, but then not losing myself in the run game as well. I want to be versatile 'backer. I want to be an every-down 'backer."
Henley's elite coverage skills showed up Sunday in Cleveland when he faked a blitz before dropping 10 yards into coverage and nearly picked off Jameis Winston.
Minter said Thursday that this pass breakup was one Henley might not have made in September, another sign of the linebacker's constant progress.
"Early in the year, there were some similar plays where maybe he's a step behind or a route gets caught in behind him," Minter said. "Just the discipline and the detail of where the routes are going to be on certain down and distances, certain coverage calls.
"And he's so athletic … but now he's just super tight on his mindset, on his details," Minter added. "When he does that, he's phenomenal in pass coverage."
Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh also raved about Henley's growth this week.
"The growth, the leadership, the tackling ability. That's been great," Harbaugh said. "This elite pass dropping into the zone and finding the receivers, plugging the holes and reacting to the balls in the air. That was elite."
Entering Week 10, Henley has seemingly done it all for the Bolts on defense this season
His game-high 13 tackles against the Browns put him at a team-best 64 on the season. And he's rarely left the field as he's logged the second-most defensive snaps (438) so far this season.
Henley this week praised Chargers linebackers coach NaVorro Bowman — a four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro under Harbaugh with the 49ers — for helping take his game to the next level.
"I think he's meant the most to my development as a linebacker in this season," Henley said. "That's huge for me."
Henley added about Minter: "When it comes to Coach Minter, it's the way he breaks down scheme, the way he breaks down the opponents. It makes it just that much easier for me."
As the Bolts get ready to make a playoff push over the back half of the season, they will surely rely on a defense that has been dominant so far this season.
The Chargers lead the league in both points allowed per game (12.6) and EPA per play allowed (-0.159). The Bolts are also sixth overall in defensive DVOA (-12.3 percent).
It's not an overstatement to say Henley has been a key piece to that success so far in 2024.
"I think I've had more opportunity in Year 2," Henley said. "That's the biggest thing, just getting more opportunities and doing something with them.
"Just not being complacent, not being comfortable and trying to be better than what I was," Henley added. "That's something I'm working on every day, every game, every practice."
Minter added: "I still think there's room [to grow]. I've said it before … his ceiling is really high with his athleticism, his skillset. And it's really starting to translate to that linebacker position."
