Alabama football kicker Conor Talty had to save a touchdown in the Crimson Tide’s 40-17 win at Mississippi State Saturday. If Nick Saban gets his way, that won’t happen again.

“I hope they never have to make a tackle if you want to know the truth about it,” Saban said Monday when asked how he prepares his kickers for the situation. “One of the worst things that could ever happen to us –because we have good specialists– so if we put them in a tackling drill and they get hurt and they can’t kick any more”

After Talty’s tackle, the freshman got excited and went to celebrate with his teammates. Saban, who was standing near the play when it ended, did not share their enthusiasm.

Fellow UA kicker Will Reichard made a tackle last season at Auburn. During preseason camp this year, he was also asked what the kickers do to practice for those moments.

Reichard said the kickers practice their tackling “every now and then” but he mostly hopes the coverage team keeps them from ever being forced into it. That’s consistent with what Saban said about it on Monday.

“They’ve got to kick a lot, they’ve got to tackle a little,” Saban said. “So you’ve got to kind of prioritize. You do that some in camp, but I’m just hoping that they never have to make a tackle. And I think if we cover kicks the way we’re supposed to, hopefully they won’t.”

Alabama will be back in action on Saturday at Texas A&M, looking to move to 3-0 in SEC play. The Crimson Tide and Aggies are scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. and the game will be aired on CBS.

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