Through eight games, Alabama’s 23 total sacks rank in the top tier of the FBS. The per-game average sits at 2.88 as it enters the open weekend and a huge month of November looming.

But for a team that figured to be a pass-rush monster, the distribution of the quarterback takedowns varied somewhat from expectations. While Will Anderson’s 6.0 lead the team, it’s three fewer than his eight-game total from 2021 — indicative of the concerted effort from opposing offenses to limit exposures to the All-American nicknamed “The Terminator.”

It’s also clear his presence alone changes the math, freeing up teammates as the wealth has spread from year to year. Where last season’s group had 22 sacks from 10 different players through 10 games, the 23 this fall had 16 contributors.

The secondary’s slice of that pie grew considerably. Brian Branch’s 0.5 sacks represented the full defensive backfield’s contribution through October last year while five different DBs combined for 5.0 of the sacks this season.

Branch has two of the sacks — one Saturday against Mississippi State — and one quarterback hurry this fall. Pass-rush moves were a focus for the junior entering this season.

“I’m working on disguising them because a lot of times the quarterbacks will kind of point me out and it’d be like, they already know I’m coming,” Branch said, “so they’ll kind of shift the line out to kind of shift the mind can block me. I love blitzing and I need to work on a little more on my disguises when I blitz so that the quarterback won’t know.”

Other defensive backs with sacks include DeMarcco Hellams (1.0), Kool-Aid McKinstry (1.0), Malachi Moore (0.5) and Jahquez Robinson (0.5).

Outside linebacker Chris Braswell, part of the three-headed cheetah package, worked with Branch on some of the finer points of his pass-rush art.

“I kinda was telling him, sometimes he was spinning a lot,” Braswell said. “I kinda was telling him not to spin a lot because you know when you spring you kinda can’t see what’s coming on the other side. So I was just trying to tell him to use his speed, his athleticism and just bend the edge because a lot of tackles can’t block someone with speed. So I was just telling him, just bend the edge and just use your hands more.”

Branch had a second-quarter sack of Mississippi State’s Will Rogers on the snap after Alabama took a 24-0 lead in Saturday night’s domination of the Bulldogs. Hellams got to him in the third quarter to force a third-and-long as the Crimson Tide’s varied looks gave the veteran passer a lot to digest.

For the season, Dallas Turner’s 2.5 sacks are second on the team behind Anderson’s 6.0. Braswell has 1.5 and he credits new outside linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler for helping step up his technique.

“I try to take in from everyone, and he’s taught us to finish at the top of the rush, use different moves, be more active with your hands,” Braswell said. “If you to a level with the quarterback, throw by or hand swipe or turn your speed into power or simply just, like I said, bending the edge and just mixing up moves and stances and whatnot to keep your pass rushing fresh.”

Alabama running back Roydell Williams can testify to the challenge of pass-blocking Alabama’s varied defensive weapons.

“They’re very fast, very elusive,” Williams said. “Of course, they’re big guys, but you have to sit in the pocket, gotta protect (Bryce Young) back there in the backfield and stand your ground.

No. 6 Alabama (7-1, 4-1 SEC) gets Saturday off before facing an LSU team that’s had trouble protecting quarterback Jayden Daniels at times this season. The Tigers (6-2, 4-1) have allowed 26.0 sacks in eight games, a total that’s tied for 120th in the 131-team FBS.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.