Standing at the podium last week at SEC Media Days, Nick Saban bemoaned the "quarterback controversy that you'd love to create."

It's the obvious and unavoidable story of Alabama's offseason coming off a surreal championship game. And it's not cooling down a week before the Crimson Tide opens practice.

Tua vs. Jalen is more than surface deep.

The attention it receives effectively sucked the oxygen from what would otherwise be prominent questions facing Saban's 12th Alabama team. Losing seven NFL draft picks on defense doesn't get the airtime on sports talk radio when there's a quarterback to pick.

That said, Saban didn't hesitate naming at least one play caller in Atlanta.

"First of all, Mack is going to be the signal caller," Saban said in response to a question 15 minutes into his time in a secondary interview room that doesn't air live on the SEC Network.

That's Mack Wilson, the junior middle linebacker who steps into the quarterback role on a defense in serious need of alphas. The graduation of Rashaan Evans and Shaun Dion Hamilton took top-end talent from the middle of the defense. Then top reserve Keith Holcombe decided to focus on baseball and sophomore VanDarius Cowan was dismissed from the team.

Suddenly, Wilson becomes arguably the most important player on the defense.

"We need Mack to really be the guy on defense for us this year when it comes to the leadership and how he effects other people," Saban said.

That involves quick communication with the sideline for play calls and relaying them to a defense short on real-world experience.

This middle linebacker job has about as must prestige as any in the Saban era. Evans was the fifth Alabama middle linebacker drafted in the first round and No. 8 total since 2010.

Wilson won't have a Minkah Fitzpatrick or Ronnie Harrison with years of high-end experience in the secondary either.

Also missing is Wilson's good friend Jeremy Pruitt. With his old defensive coordinator coaching Tennessee, Tosh Lupoi will be in his first year calling the plays.

What's more: Wilson had to fight through a foot injury all season last fall. Technically, his only starts came in the playoff wins over Clemson and Georgia. The Jones fracture kept him out for two games in November when the Tide linebackers were running out of healthy bodies in the middle.

Depth won't be a luxury behind Wilson and projected fellow starter Dylan Moses. So, staying healthy will be even more crucial for Wilson.

The former five-star recruit from Montgomery's Carver fits the mold of high-motor Alabama middle linebackers of the past. He made a Reuben Foster-like introduction with a bone-rattling hit on kickoff coverage against Texas A&M as a true freshman in 2016.

Pass coverage is also in his tool box. The fourth of his team-high four interceptions was returned 18 yards for the soul-snatching touchdown against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl.

"Very athletic, very good player," Saban said. "I don't have any questions about his ability to do what he needs to do at his position to be successful ..."

It's about more than that in 2018, Saban concluded.

"... but how he affects other people is going to be critical as well."

Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.