Alabama Crimson Tide Football Official 2020 Depth Chart

Nick Saban released Alabama's official depth chart of the 2020 season opener at Missouri

The word is "or," and it's very popular on one day in particular in regards to the University of Alabama football team, the Monday before the season opener. 

That's when Nick Saban releases the first official depth chart of the season. 

It always comes with disclaimers, and is never as clearcut as most make it. 

For example, consider what coach said before the 2018 opener against Louisville in Orlando:

"Just because you guys look at this depth chart, like 'OK, these guys are starters until something bad happens to them and they can't start anymore. Then the next guy gets a chance to play.' The next guy still has a chance to beat him out. The next guy is still competing. The next guy still wants to play. That kind of competition, I think, helps the other players play better. And helps you play better because you're more challenged. 

"The worst thing you can have on your team is not have competition where guys think 'I've got this, I don't have to practice hard, I don't have to work hard, I don't have to prepare very well because I'm going to play no matter what happens.' So everybody is competing every day. We're competing every day to get better and to get everybody better. That's what we're doing. Regardless of what anybody says or thinks, that's why you play the games so that you have the opportunity to compete and see how you respond to competition. Whether you're a starter or not, the next guy up has an opportunity if he's proven that he can go in there and play winning football and get an opportunity if you're not doing your job, not taking ownership and being accountable, and you're prepared to go out there and play well. You owe that to the rest of your teammates. I owe that to every player on the team to play the best players and if a guy hasn't done that, then somebody else should play. 

"So I think there's competition whether there's a depth chart or not, or whether we have a slash or not. So I know that's hard when you guys ... You believe the written word. You believe the written word, even though sometimes, I don't know if you can believe the written word that I read. From you."

Specific to the 2020 initial depth chart, Saban didn't say much about it. 

However, he was asked about having three freshmen listed as starters, including two on defense: linebacker Will Anderson Jr., and Malachi Moore as the star (nickel defensive back). Moore is listed as an "or" option along with freshman Brian Branch. 

"Both players have had really good camps," Saban said. "They’re very good competitors. Football is important to them. They’re smart. They were able to learn and grow in the system very quickly. And we needed some players to come through as young players in certain positions and these two guys certainly did that and did a very good job. So I’m sure this first game is going to be a challenge in terms of their opportunity to go out there and stay focused on doing their job and we’re going to help them every way that we can so that they can play well."

The depth chart remains fluid throughout the season: