Paul Posluszny said Tim Shaw can "flat out fly."

"He runs like a 4.3 or a 4.4," Posluszny said about his fellow linebacker's 40-yard dash time.

Tim Shaw, and his speed, led Penn State's defense in tackles against Central Michigan with 10 tackles. And that defense also only let up three points Saturday, thanks to a defense that looked like Hank Stram's old "Triple Stack."

Coach Joe Paterno may have alluded to that when asked about using three down lineman.

"We've had that package," Paterno said. "We've got two situation packages. We've got what we call the nickel package and we have what we call the Penny package. The Penny package is three down guys ... It gives you a little bit of flexibility."

Cornerback Alan Zemaitis was slightly more helpful.

"The Penny takes out a lineman and puts a fast guy in," cornerback Alan Zemaitis said.

Mobile quarterback Kent Smith forced the Nittany Lions' defensive coordinator, Tom Bradley, to use more versatile play-calling.

He brought out more things like whatever that old Stram-like play was, and more things like more Shaw, which meant less Smith running around.

It didn't take long to bring Smith down in the backfield -- safety Calvin Lowry was blitzed on fourth-and-2, around the seven-minute mark in the first quarter.

Smith agreed.

"No doubt about it," he said. "They did a heck of a job on pressuring the passer."

Everything still rolls back to Shaw, though.

"He was in a situation to make great things happen, and he did," Posluszny said.

Posluszny also admitted that a restful practice week did the defense good, not that more rest would change his football outlook. He was bleeding from a re-opened scab on his forehead. A mere flesh wound from practice, he said.

Coach Joe Paterno compiled a list of starters who he said would only practice for one-third of the practice time last week.

"I thought Paul did a great job in putting pressure on from the outside," Paterno said, when asked about his decision to rest players. "The kid who is playing a lot of good football is the young [Jay] Alford."

The defensive tackle was also relatively hesitant to say whether or not Bradley called more blitzes this week, at least compared to last week. He was more willing to open up when asked to grade his personal performance against the Chippewas.

"I don't know," Alford said. "If I could say a 'B' or something like that. It's hard to say. I'll have to see on film."

Still, Shaw's purpose on Saturday, was not to "spy" the quarterback.

Paterno, Posluszny and even Shaw himself adamantly admitted never using the linebacker to keep tabs on Smith's running abilities.

Shaw's 10 tackles tied his career high for the third straight game this season. His two sacks were also a career high.

"My role was just like any other linebacker's role," Shaw said. "Just get into my drop and keep my eye on the quarterback. If he scrambles, just get up and keep him to as little gain as possible ... He's a great passer."