No-name defense? Don’t tell Stanford players

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Compared with previous Stanford defenses, this year’s edition looks almost like a no-name unit. Eight of the top 10 tacklers are gone.

To be sure, two of the top sack producers are back, outside linebackers Kevin Anderson and Peter Kalambayi. So is cornerback Ronnie Harris. And the supposedly questionable defensive line is looking strong lately, buttressed by former Cal Bear Brennan Scarlett.

Any fears that Stanford will be porous after losing eight starters are unfounded, says the leader of the pack, senior Blake Martinez.

He points out that he was a non-starter until the last week of camp last year. The 6-foot-2, 247-pound inside linebacker not only won a starting berth alongside A.J. Tarpley, but he also led the Cardinal in tackles with 102.

Now? “He could be as good as anybody in the Pac-12,” inside linebackers coach Peter Hansen said.

Tarpley’s old spot is up in the air, however, with two weeks to go before the opener at Northwestern. In the running are redshirt sophomore Kevin Palma and redshirt freshmen Jordan Perez and Bobby Okereke.

The fact such a key spot is undecided doesn’t bother Hansen. “We like to rotate,” he said. “Last year we preached that we had four starters at inside linebacker. We’re going to preach the same thing this year.”

Head coach David Shaw is counting on Martinez for another superb year. “He’s not learning the defense anymore,” he said. “He’s fine-tuning all the nuances.”

It’s hard for the offense to beat him on tight-end passes “because he’s seen them all,” Shaw said. Martinez sees how the play is developing and “sprints right to the spot the quarterback is going to throw,” Shaw said. “He’s playing right now at a very high level.”

According to Martinez, one gauge he has used to assess his possible running mates has been: “Who’s the guy I don’t need to talk to during the play, and who’s going to manage the defense and all the checks without me having to babysit him and let him know what’s going on?” he said. “All three have shown they’re able to do it.”

Now, he said, the issue is which one will add “the physicality and the nastiness our coach talks about to be able to play against the Oregons, the SCs, the Arizonas — and show it for all four quarters.”

Palma, who took part in 18 tackles last year, would seem to have an edge on the others in that regard because, at 253 pounds, he outweighs them by 30 to 35 pounds. According to Hansen, though, the competition “is very even right now.”

Briefly: It’s not certain that Michael Rector, normally a starting wide receiver, will play in the opener, Shaw indicated after Saturday’s open scrimmage. “I’m not going to comment on that just yet,” he said. Rector returned to practice this week following a suspension for an undisclosed violation, but it’s possible he may miss some game action too. ... Offensive linemen Nick Davidson and David Bright are back from injuries, so the competition for starting spots at right guard and right tackle will heat up. … Freshman running back Bryce Love looked good again Saturday. He could be part of the tailback rotation this year, Shaw said. The issue for him and several other freshmen is whether it’s worth burning redshirt seasons if they’re going to play only a few plays a game.

Tom FitzGerald is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: tfitzgerald@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @tomgfitzgerald