Jan 26, 2012, Honolulu, HI, USA; AFC free safety Eric Weddle of the San Diego Chargers (32) signs autographs for fans during practice for the 2012 Pro Bowl at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

We have a few players on the roster that have been to the Pro Bowl before: Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Ryan Mathews, Nick Hardwick, Eric Weddle and Shaun Phillips. When some of those players are having some of their worst years, things are going to suck. Our Pro Bowl quarterback is playing at a ridiculously bad rate. Ryan Mathews can’t get playing time because of injuries, fumbles or Ronnie Brown. Antonio Gates is a ghost. Hardwick and Phillips are playing well, but not to the Pro Bowl level.

Eric Weddle is one of the best safeties in the league. He doesn’t have the interception numbers like last year, but he is one of the few impact players on the team. He may be the only player on the team that gets selected to the Pro Bowl.

Scifres is considered for the Pro Bowl every season, but he keeps getting second fiddle to Shane Lechler from the Oakland Raiders. With the offensive struggles this year, he has needed to boom more punts down the field. He might be the team MVP. He is one of the best punters in the league. Could this be the year that he makes it to the Pro Bowl?

Are there any other players on the roster that are Pro Bowl worthy?

September 16, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick (61) during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers won 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE

Now that the Presidential Election is over, it’s time to turn our focus to another important election: that of the NFL Pro Bowl.  Over the last decade, the Chargers had several players who were a lock to earn that coveted trip to Hawaii.  Players such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, Philip Rivers and others.  However, those days are over for this struggling team.  We have to look a little deeper to find those players who deserve the Pro Bowl recognition.

Punter – 5 Mike Scifres

One of the best punters in the league, this season has been no exception.  He is 3rd in the AFC with a 48.3avg which would also be a career high.  Thanks to his ability to directional kick, and drop punt (and a S/O to great special teams coverage, especially guy below) only 2 of his 32 punts have been touchbacks!

He is a 6-time Pro Bowl alternate but has a great chance to be the starter this year.

Special Teams – 25 Darrell Stuckey

The 3rd year pro has had a breakout season on special teams this year. Through 8 games, DSII has recorded 10 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble.  He also has made a few incredible plays, most recently last Thursday night against Kansas City with a diving catch on a punt that pinned the Chiefs on the 5 yard line.

DSII is making the most of his opportunity on Special Teams and his results reflect the hustle and hard work he has put in. He deserves to go to Hawaii.

Linebacker – 56 Donald Butler

One of the most exciting young defensive players on the Chargers, Butler made a name for himself last year posting 96 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 8 tackles for loss.  The 3rd year pro is picking right up where he left off, with 55 tackles through the first 8 games (2nd on team), 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 INT and 1 defensive touchdown.  He is very active and constantly is around the ball, leading to one of the great sayings for Boltheads “The Butler Did It!”

While he is not a league leader in the top of any 1 category, his all-around play has been great and should definitely be looked at as a possible alternate.

Center – 61 Nick Hardwick

A stabalizing force in an otherwise very weak offensive line.  Hardwick has finally shaken the injury bug that plagued him early in his career and has now started 42 straight games.  He may not get the recognition from the rest of the league due to the amount of times Rivers has been sacked, but if Hardwick was not there, those numbers wouldbe MUCH higher.

Those are the 4 Bolts that I believe are the most deserving on a talented but underperforming Chargers team this year.  We are only at the halway mark with plenty of season left for guys to make a case. Of course, I would rather have ZERO Chargers in the Pro Bowl….because that would mean we’re in the SUPER BOWL!!!

Please feel free to comment and let me know if you think somebody else should have been included. And please go here to vote for who you think should represent! www.nfl.com/probowl

Boltup!

Dan Locke

Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE

You all know what Mount Rushmore is right? Arguably the top 4 Presidents of the United States carved onto a mountain out in South Dakota.

If we had a Chargers Mount Rushmore carved out in Chargers Park for the 2011 season, who would you have placed on it?

Here is my list:

Eric Weddle
I was one of the guys that was not happy to see him get a HUGE contract. I wanted him back on the team, but didn’t like seeing us send out all that money. He shut me up real fast with his play this season! He was the best player on the defensive side of the ball and was selected to the All-Pro and Pro-Bowl teams. He led the league in interceptions with seven and was one of the few playmakers on defense. Hope he can continue playing up to that standard next season.

Antwan Barnes
Barnes led the team in sacks with 11, while everyone else on the roster had struggles getting any pressure on quarterbacks at all. Despite his ability to put pressure on the quarterback, he still had to come off of the bench and split time with Travis LaGirl. We need to get him more opportunities to get after the quarterback. At the very least, we need to move him ahead of LaGirl on the depth chart.

Mike Scifres
He started out the year kicking field goals!  He kicked in 3 extra points and then he nailed one from 40+ yards out. He is one of the best punters in the league and he had his best season last year with a new career high in punt average.

Jared Gaither
I love the BIG LAZY! He didn’t allow a sack once he was brought onto the team and his addition to the starting lineup transformed our offense. All of a sudden, Philip Rivers was able to get time to throw the ball and make big plays down the field. His play may have saved some people’s jobs! He will be looking to get a nice payday from his play.

We had 5 players that headed to the Pro Bowl and only one of them is on my list. Philip struggled with turnovers and his play caused us to lose some games. Ryan Mathews still puts the ball on the ground and really needs to fix that issue. Antonio Gates was still recovering from his toe early in the season and didn’t look right until later in the year.

Vincent Jackson would be next up on the list. He played well and fought through injuries to get out onto the field and contribute.

Who would be on your Chargers Rushmore?