The talk exiting Alabama's otherwise pedestrian 56-0 win over Mercer centered on the new freshman linebacker.
Dylan Moses flashed the potential that made put him on magazine covers long before getting to Tuscaloosa. He went for 11 tackles -- four in the backfield -- and intercepted a pass in his first start.
Playing the role Shaun Dion Hamilton occupied before the senior's season-ending injury, Moses had to make calls and direct some traffic. Another veteran who typically directs things on the back end was there to help Moses.
"He had to ease into his role a little bit," defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick said. "He was a little nervous before the game, but I was talking to him and I just told him to 'Go out there and do what you do. Make the calls. Be confident.' I think as the game went on, he got more and more confident. He was making plays, shooting gaps, doing what he had to do. He did a really good job."
Moses, a five-star recruit from Baton Rouge, had nine tackles entering the game. He saw action the previous week at Mississippi State, though Keith Holcombe was in there most of the game. Saban said Mercer was a less complicated preparation than the Bulldogs, which helped with the confidence factor.
That won't be the case this week with Auburn's complex variety of formations, motions and trick plays on the menu.
At least the pressure of that initial start is crossed off the list. Rashaan Evans, the other middle linebacker in Alabama's defense, saw a little of those nerves from Moses.
"Yeah, that's something I would expect from a freshman," Evans said. "I mean, he's excited about the game. I would expect him to be nervous. And if he wasn't nervous, that means he doesn't care. So, Dylan is going to be a great athlete here, definitely. The only thing I can do right now is just provide leadership for him. Dylan, he's looked to me for leadership and guidance for some things that he needed help on. I feel like right now this is the best time to do it."
Fitzpatrick said he talked to Moses before the game.
"I've been there before," the junior said. "I remember the first game that I started. It was the same type atmosphere, same type of role. I was nervous. I had people talking to me saying the same thing. Be confident out there. Just fly around and play fast. Just have to talk to him."
Any of that angst must have worn off before the game.
Saban said Moses looked well prepared and played with confidence in his breakout performance.
"He didn't have a lot of anxiety, which is really important to being able to stay focused," he said. "I think all those things helped him. And he made a lot of plays in the game and played fast, and that's certainly what we'd like for him to do. Hopefully that'll help him being able to carry over into future games."
Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande.