2010-2019 All-Decade team for Chargers: Defense/Specialists

Introducing the defense and the specialists of the Chargers’ All-Decade team for the 2010s.

The decade is coming to an end. Even though the Chargers haven’t had a lot of success in the past 10 years, making the playoffs only twice in that timespan, they possessed a slew of players that helped them along the way.

With that said, here is my Chargers 2010-2019 All-Decade team on the defensive side of the ball, as well as the specialists:

Defensive end: Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram

Bosa and Ingram are easily one of the most deadly pass-rushing tandems in the league. Bosa has 40 sacks in 51 career games, which makes him the 10th player since 1982 to total 40 or more sacks in his first 50 games. Ingram’s 49 sacks is the fifth-most in franchise history. He also has more tackles for loss than any other Charger this decade (252).

Defensive tackle: Brandon Mebane, Corey Liuget

Liuget was a key component in the trenches for eight seasons. Liuget recorded a total of 275 tackles and 24 sacks as a Charger. Mebane has been a  steady contributor up front and a key locker room presence since he was signed.

Linebacker: Denzel Perryman, Shaun Phillips, Donald Butler

You could’ve gone a couple different ways with this position. Among the notables in consideration were Takeo Spikes and Manti Te’o. Phillips registered double digits in sacks three times, including the 2010 season when he earned a Pro Bowl selection. Butler had 373 tackles, seven sacks and three interceptions in five seasons. When he is on the field, Perryman shows that he is one of the best run defenders the team has had, totaling 23 tackles for loss in five stints.

Cornerback: Casey Hayward, Quentin Jammer

Jammer, who surprisingly never made the Pro Bowl, had 28 passes defensed from 2010-13. He has the most passes defensed in team history with 138. Hayward will go down as one of general manager Tom Telesco best signings. His 58 passes defensed are the most by any Chargers in three-plus seasons. Along with that, he has 13 interceptions.

Free safety: Eric Weddle

Weddle had 15 interceptions, two of which were returned for a touchdown and five forced fumbles. As a result, he was a two-time first-team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler.

Strong safety: Derwin James

It’s only been two seasons, one of which wasn’t a full 16-game slate and James has already shown to be one of the best players of the past decade, making impact plays in coverage, against the run and as a blitzer.

Kicker: Nick Novak

This would go to Michael Badgley, who was the one that ended the team’s kicking woes, but there’s not a large enough sample size. Novak is the sixth-leading scorer in franchise history. He made 110-of-130 field goals from 2011-17.

Punter: Mike Scifres

Scifres racked up the most career punting yards in team history with 33,797. He’s tied for No. 12 in NFL history, averaging 45.2 yards per punt over his career.