[Tuck4Bama]

TUSCALOOSA -- There is an explanation behind recent tackling woes among Alabama's defensive players.
They were rusty.

Saturday's scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium was only the second time in preseason camp the Crimson Tide has tackled to the ground. The other was the previous weekend's scrimmage.

The remainder of the time, Alabama coach Nick Saban has asked defenders to "thud," which is wrapping up without a full-scale hit. Saban has done this at every previous coaching stop with good results both on the field and in the training room.

"Most injuries occur in football in my opinion, especially in practice, when guys are on the ground," Saban said. "So we practice as much as we can -- always have, always will -- where players are not on the ground during practice."

The strategy, while effective in curtailing Alabama's preseason injuries, was tied to an offensively dominated first scrimmage. Poor tackling was perhaps Saban's biggest criticism of the defense's initial performance.

"We didn't think we would do as bad as we did, but it has been a while since we've tackled live, actually since the spring," safety Rashad Johnson said last week. "Now, it's become a bigger priority for us."

ALABAMA NOTEBOOK: Saban's routine could be behind tackling woes- al.com

[Stoney]

Nick will fix this very quickly.