Tag: Chargers All-Decade Team

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.

2010-2019 All-Decade team for Chargers: Offense

Introducing the offense 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 offensive side of the ball:

Quarterback: Philip Rivers

Rivers is a given here. Including the playoffs, Rivers has 235 consecutive starts, which is second among quarterbacks. He is the franchise’s leader in passing yards (59,271), touchdowns (397) and completions (4,908).

Running back: Melvin Gordon

This was a tough decision between Gordon and Ryan Mathews, but the former Wisconsin product has been more productive statistically. Though it’s not by much, Gordon amassed 133 more rushing yards than Mathews and he has him beat in the rushing touchdown category, as he has 35 to Mathews’ 23 scores.

Wide receiver: Keenan Allen, Malcolm Floyd, Vincent Jackson

Allen is going to go down one of the best receivers to play in a Chargers uniform. Since being selected in the third-round of the 2013 NFL draft, he has broken a few records. In total, he has amassed 524 receptions, 6,405 yards and 34 touchdowns. Floyd, a fan favorite, totaled 321 catches for 5,550 yards and 34 touchdowns. Jackson, Rivers’ go-to deep target, had 272 receptions for 4,754 yards and 37 touchdowns as a Charger.

Tight end: Antonio Gates

Gates, the record holder for touchdown receptions among tight ends, will go down as one of the best to play the position. He is the franchise leader in receptions (955), receiving yards (11,841) and touchdown catches (116) by a wide margin.

Left tackle: Russell Okung

Left guard: Kris Dielman

Center: Nick Hardwick

Right guard: Jeromey Clary

Right tackle: Marcus McNeill

Okung is one of the three Chargers offensive lineman to make a Pro Bowl appearance this decade. Dielman earned four consecutive Pro Bowl invitations. Hardwick started 136 games for the Chargers, playing in all 16 games five times in his career. Clary never made a Pro Bowl, but he was well respected for his work ethic, leadership and consistency, taking the field for more than 2,400 consecutive offensive snaps at one point. McNeill helped the Bolts with their rushing attack, earning a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first two seasons.