LA Chargers: Ranking every linebacker taken in the first round by the Bolts

5. Bob Babich

No, this is not the same Bob Babich that was a coach with the Chicago Bears during their Super Bowl run. This Bob Babich was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft and had a short tenure with the Chargers.

Babich played just three seasons with the Bolts but was a starter and was more productive than English was in his five seasons. Babich started 36 of the 42 games that he played with the Chargers, although it is truly hard to grasp his overall production as this was before sacks, and even tackles were recorded.

What we do know is that Babich had a combined Approximate Value, via Pro Football Reference, of 16 in three seasons compared to English’s seven in five years. Babich went on to spend six seasons with the Cleveland Browns, where his best years occurred.

4. Don Goode

Don Goode had a much longer tenure with the LA Chargers, although he still was not anything exceptional. Goode played six seasons with the Bolts, before also going to the Cleveland Browns (for two years) and started 62 of the 81 games he played in.

Again, this was an era before sacks and tackles but Goode had a combined 31 AV in six seasons with the Chargers and even had six interceptions for the team in 1976, a ridiculously high number for a linebacker.