re: Why do our DB's play without looking....

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Alabama grades whether or not a defensive back should turn and look for the ball by where they are in relation to the line of scrimmage. Usually, Tide coaches teach defensive backs to avoid looking for the ball within the first 18 yards, or the “move area,” especially if they’re playing tight, in-phase coverage.

“You have to stay in-phase with the guy until you get through the move area, which we usually tell our guys is 18 yards down field. Then you can become the receiver and look for the ball if you’re in-phase,” Saban said Thursday. “If you’re out-of-phase, you have to play the ball through the man, which means you’re not going to turn and look for it until you get back in position to look for it through the man.”

Alabama’s coverage philosophy can sometimes be exploited by offenses that try to take advantage of that “move area.” And that can often lead to pass interference calls, even when the Tide defensive backs are doing what they’re taught.

That’s what happened when Alabama senior cornerback Cyrus Jones was called for pass interference on Mississippi State’s second offensive series Saturday.

“I think he played it correctly. He was in-phase but he wasn’t through the move area,” Saban said. “We know they throw back-shoulder throws to (De’Runnya Wilson), so we were playing it that way, and the ball was thrown poorly. Who initiated the contact? I don’t know but they always call that pass interference on the defense."

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