Lambert's Deacons D struggled in '10

Brad Lambert had success in many of the 23 seasons he's been an assistant coach -- including winning a national title at Marshall in 1992 and the ACC championship at Wake Forest in 2006.

Things, however, didn't go so well for Lambert at Wake Forest last season, this third as the Deacons' defensive coordinator.

The young and depth-shy Deacons struggled defensively all season, ranking last in the ACC in points per game (35.8), 11th in total defense (430.7 yards) and pass defense (143.8) and 10th in rush defense (192.5). Low points were losses to Stanford (68-24) and Maryland (62-14). Wake Forest allowed 40-plus points four times.

There's an argument to be made that last season was an aberration. So thin was Wake's defense that two true freshman started in the secondary, which almost never happens because coach Jim Grobe usually redshirts his freshmen. But last season's senior class didn't pan out and the young guys were called upon with disastrous results.