In the flash of one game the Oregon State football team doubled its quarterback sack total.

What's unusual is the source of the sacks. Junior defensive tackle Stephen Paea recorded three of the four last week against UCLA.

The Beavers needed Paea's breakout game since the pass rush from a revamped line hasn't been as effective as it was in recent seasons.

Pressuring the quarterback typically comes from the defensive ends for the Beavers, but Paea's three sacks equaled what all the ends have done this season.

His success will only help the Beavers as they go into a Pacific-10 Conference game at No. 23 California this afternoon, and for the rest of the season.

"My style of play is through the guy and not around the guy, and that's what I pretty much did," Paea said. "In previous games I was trying to do other stuff to go around the guy. Other than that, I give credit to the D-line. They freed me up."

He and fellow starting defensive tackle Brennan Olander work as a team, disrupting the middle of opposing offensive lines. Coaches want them to blast into the backfield and break up plays on the way to the quarterback.

The rapport between Paea and Olander started last season. When Olander hurt a knee during training camp, their teamwork had to be put on hold while he recovered until after the second game of the season.

Each game together they are getting better. They combined for nine tackles against UCLA.

"We were running our blitzes and pressure, and our execution was doing well," Olander said. "That helped. It was just the general execution. It just started clicking last game."

Paea feels liberated, and not only from what he accomplished. The line has made adjustments continually with their stunts.

The big-picture plan for the tackles is to create a push into the backfield, take up blocks and let the ends and linebackers run wild.

So he had been playing a support role like he was last season. Now he's looking to spearhead the attack.

"The fastest you can get out of your stance to the ball, that's through the guy or around the guy," Paea said of his goals each play. "I thought taking double teams are what D-tackles do, but we have to help our defenders out, too. It's how hungry the tackles are to get to the ball. And now Olander takes on more doubles and frees me up."

A big part of the problem in applying pressure to the quarterback is the Beavers have been adapting to life without standout ends Victor Butler and Slade Norris, who were NFL draft picks.

The Beavers have been most effective when there's a push from the outside and the middle. Now that the tackles have an idea of how to create pressure, the goal is to have the ends follow.

"You are looking to collapse the pocket two ways, one from the edge and one from the interior," coach Mike Riley said. "You can't leave big gaps in the middle. You have to have good penetration and balance with the tackles and a tight corner with the ends. That's ideal."

By nature, the tackles will always be guys fighting in the trenches with little glory. Even though they are trying to make more of an impact, they still have to help others make the plays without the gaudy numbers.

Life for them is in a tight space with big men all around them, but Olander and Paea don't mind.

"For us to win, each guy on the defense has to perform their specific function on that play," Olander said. "If that doesn't happen (the play) would be broke for a touchdown every time. It's not frustrating not getting the tackles. As long I do my job and I take two guys and the linebacker gets a tackle for a loss, it's great for the team. We all get to celebrate."

The Beavers will be able to celebrate this evening if the defensive line can help contain California's dynamic running game before the running backs get into open space, and pressure quarterback Kevin Riley.

That's always what they want to do, and what makes a good defense for the Beavers.

"We haven't had the prefect game yet that defines the defense for the season," Olander said. "We still have that game coming. Last week showed we are capable of doing it, and we can do it every week now."

Clark won't start

Senior cornerback Tim Clark returned late this week from a concussion he suffered last Saturday but won't start today, Riley said.

Sophomore Brandon Hardin will start in his place. Hardin started for Clark at Arizona State when Clark didn't practice much after having dental surgery.

"Tim has missed so much this week that's what's going to happen," Riley said of his lineup.

Center Alex Linnenkohl is expected to start even though he missed much of the week due to sickness. He's a more experienced player than Clark, Riley said.

Starting safety Lance Mitchell was slowed late in the week with a leg injury. Suaesi Tuimaunei may see more work than usual and could start.

"Lance was gimpy," Riley said. "He'll be all right and play in the game."