Cards’ defense faces big challenge

Terrence Holt and Roderick Hood became the elder statesmen in the Cardinals secondary this week. Naturally, Holt was asked about the Cleveland Browns’ playoff push behind a potent offense.

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Tight end Kellen Winslow: “Freak.”

Receiver Braylon Edwards: “He can run and jump and touch the sky.”

Quarterback Derek Anderson: “He’s been lights out.”

Holt didn’t want to forget about Jamal Lewis either, he of the 740 yards rushing and eight touchdowns.

By contrast, the Cardinals are coming off a disheartening 37-31 overtime loss to lowly San Francisco, lost their Pro Bowl safety (Adrian Wilson) and starting cornerback (Eric Green) for the season, are scrambling to stay in the NFC playoff picture and must keep those hopes alive against the third-highest scoring team (28.6 points per game) in the NFL.

And their nickel back (Antrel Rolle) will be the starting corner six days after the death of friend Sean Taylor.

Good times.

Rolle, Oliver Celestin and Matt Ware will take on the additional responsibility of stopping a bounty of Browns, which means more than half of the Cardinals secondary has changed involuntarily in the past two weeks.

“It’s frustrating when these guys go down because you’ve played with them, but it’s a great opportunity to look forward to,” Hood said. “I know there’s a lot of guys you’ve never heard of that are talented, and they get their opportunity to step in and shine.”

Celestin has already made two starts this season in place of Wilson (normal backup Aaron Francisco has been out with a calf injury). Ware has seen the field in spots as an injury stop-gap or when extra defensive backs are needed.

Their objective: Figure out how to get in the way of the Browns’ possible Pro Bowl passing trio.

“Once your number is called, there are live bullets now,” Celestin said. “You hope to turn it up a notch if you have any adrenaline or passion about the game. Now it’s your turn to go make plays, compete and win.“

“It’s rare, but you have to be ready and can’t afford a drop-off,” Ware said of losing two starters for good within a week.

Because of a lack of on-field continuity, the locker room acknowledged changes are inevitable, especially in communication with one another. Shortened terminology understood by the regular starters (Green, Hood, Wilson and Holt) now has to be spelled out.

Players watch film together, and while Hood and Holt can point out plays, tactics, tendencies and proper positioning to those less seasoned, they can’t teach game-speed recognition.

“We have guys with enough character, smarts and ability where we’ll be okay,” Holt said. “We just have to grow up real fast.”

The players’ outward optimism is understandable. With injuries and playoff realities increasingly ominous, they see little choice but to wear the proverbial sunshine glasses through what’s been a gloomy week.

“In this league you don’t have time to be frustrated,” Holt said. “I miss my guys and we’re going to miss them in the secondary, but we have to move on. It’s so late and so in-your-face with a new opponent to worry about. They don’t care we lost Adrian and Eric, they’re probably happy more than anything. It’s up to us and the new guys to come in and make the position as if those (guys) haven’t left.

“Easier said than done."

FANTASY

•Adrian Wilson repeats (or betters) his 2006 Pro Bowl year, in which he had 82 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions.

•Eric Green continues to solidify a cornerback spot and becomes a vocal leader in the secondary.

•Aaron Francisco and Oliver Celestin are extra defensive backs for obvious passing situations and play special teams.

•Antrel Rolle builds on his three-interception day against Cincinnati as the nickel back.

•The Cleveland Browns continue to uphold their losing ways (19-45 from 2003-2006).

REALITY

•Wilson is out for the season.

•Green is out for the season.

•Francisco is doubtful with a nagging calf injury, so Celestin will make his third career start at safety.

•Rolle, after a week without sleep while mourning the loss of friend Sean Taylor, is back as a starting cornerback, where he’s struggled in coverage throughout his career.

•The Browns are 7-4, average 28.6 points per game (third in the NFL) and 244 passing yards (10th). They’re playing for the playoffs for the first time since 2002.