Jumbo Package: Final NFL Draft thoughts, basketball season tickets, and more

Would Spurrier burn out if he got his start in coaching these days? According to him, with the new recruiting schedule the answer seems to be yes. While football was always a game of talent over Xs and Os, OBC did his best work when the talent was on an even playing field: He was a great game coach, but not the most vigorous recruiter...because he liked having a life.

Steve Spurrier would absolutely hate coaching in college football now - CBSSports.com

I sort of liked an offseason. There is no offseason now," Spurrier recently told ESPN. "It's year around, and guys go, go, go, but a lot of guys like that. They don't go to the beach. They don't play golf. They don't travel. They don't do other things in life. I think it helped me last 30 years as a head coach because I did have an offseason."

That Spurrier implies younger coaches will burn out quicker in this new age of college football coaching is interesting. Then again, no one knows about burnout quite like Spurrier.

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#Prebuckle2017

Excited about the recruiting haul Avery Johnson brought it and the new-look Alabama basketball team? You should be. So, let’s put our money where our mouth is and some butts in seats: Season Tickets are now on sale, with a meager $30 deposit.

You can also phone Outbound Sales at 205-348-3592.

#MakeAlabamaBasketballifNotGreatAtLeastNCAATournamentBoundAgain

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Trio of Tide draft hopefuls receive positive injury news

As far as Alabama is concerned, three former Crimson Tide players have received good news concerning injuries or recent procedures, including a pair of potential first-round picks.

According to his agent Malki Kawa, linebacker Reuben Foster is ahead of schedule in his recovery from offseason rotator cuff surgery. The doctors said the “healing process looks beautiful.”

Also receiving good news was Eddie Jackson and O.J. Howard. Unfortunately there is no word on Jonathan Allen yet. Questions about his shoulder may drop his stock lower than should be the case.

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Bama Busts? It’s complicated

Are Alabama players draft busts or not? The numbers tell the story | TideSports.com

Why does the perception exist?

This is a difficult thing to trace back to its roots. It likely began when former UA Butkus Award-winning middle linebacker Rolando McClain flamed out in Oakland. The truth is it likely could have had its genesis in former Outland Trophy-winning left tackle Andre Smith starting just five games in his first two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Both were top-10 selections in their respective draft classes: Smith at No. 6 overall in 2009 and McClain at No. 8 in 2010.

A year later, Ingram played in just 10 games for New Orleans and started only four after being selected in the later stages of the 2011 first round.

This is a really nice look at the Bama Bust perception. The Tide has hit more than it’s missed. But, the misses have been some high profile guys that Saban produced early in his ‘Bama tenure. Unfairly, two of those were Mike Shula players, and one of the alleged busts derived from a nitwit in New Orleans not using Ingram properly (he has since made the Pro Bowl.) Then, of course, there’s that Trent Richardson bust that has unfairly hung about the neck of ‘Bama running backs the past several years.

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Movie break

We’re all going to be sad this weekend watching most of the front seven get drafted, so let’s try to be upbeat as we watch a 2017 Alabama defense hype video.

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Potential first-round picks really don't like NFL Draft mock drafts | AL.com

Alabama's Jonathan Allen chuckled when mock drafts were mentioned.

The national collegiate defensive player of the year was once mentioned in the pool of potential No. 1 overall picks. Questions about his shoulders pushed him more into the top-10 range.

Unlike everyone else interviewed, Allen at least didn't hate mock drafts.

"It's tough because human nature, you want to look at it,"

Allen admitted. "You really do. I'm just going to be honest, who doesn't want to look at it? But you try not to because it will drive you crazy. You want you look at them but I leave that up to my family."

Also human nature is our desire to project the future, which in turn creates drafts in our head or for cold hard cash. The one player I wouldn’t want to neg on in a mock, however, is Ryan Anderson. I’d prefer not to get knocked all the way from Memphis to the Birmingham Biscuit Bowl.

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The draft machine rolls on with “baby NFL team”

Ex-NFL star: Nick Saban built 'baby NFL team' at Alabama | AL.com

“I think some people don't have Tim Williams going in the first round and they don't have Ryan Anderson going in the first round," Robinson added. "Based off tape, those are probably the two best outside linebackers in the draft. I don't see how that correlates."

Former Pittsburgh Steeler cornerback Ike Taylor said Alabama today reminds him of Florida State, Miami in the 1990s. Should the Tide get a first-rounder Thursday, it would give it a streak of nine years with at least one in the opening round. That would tie Florida (1983-91) for the second longest run, falling behind just Miami's 14-year streak from 1995-2008.

If you asked me which players would have the longest, steadiest NFL career I’m going to go with Ryan Anderson and Cole Mazza. Anderson was disgracefully ommitted from All-SEC and All-American ballots and may have been the most complete OLB in the country. I think the only person angrier about it than me and Ryan Anderson is his coach, DC Jeremy Pruitt, who unleashed a deserved tirade when All-SEC voting was concluded.

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BOL Preview: Alabama players in the 2017 NFL Draft

BamaOnLine takes a look at 10 Alabama draft prospects, their position rankings, projected rounds, the pre-draft visits and notable quotes before the Browns are on the clock.

Solid stuff from Charlie, as usual.

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Alabama Crimson Tide Football's first-round NFL Draft picks during Nick Saban era Julio Jones

Since Nick Saban was hired in 2007, 18 Crimson Tide players have been selected in the first 32 picks. This year, as many as five former UA standouts could add to the list.

As many as seven first-rounders could come from the Crimson Tide, although most project four-to-five. Take a look at the 32 previous First Rounders Saban has produced in Tuscaloosa.

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That’s it for now. We’ll be back later today with NFL draft profiles and coverage as it happens. LSU baseball comes to town tonight as well -- if you’ve not read Roger’s autopsy of Bama Baseball 2017, you should.

Roll Tide.