Outback Bowl 2012: 5 Things Georgia Must Improve on Going into 2012

The (10-3, 7-1 SEC) No. 16 Georgia Bulldogs took on the (10-3, 7-1 Big Ten) No. 17 Michigan State Spartans today in the 2012 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla. The Bulldogs took off in the first half, leading the Spartans 16-0 entering halftime.

The Bulldogs allowed the Spartans back into the game in the third quarter, allowing the Spartans to find the endzone twice and accumulate 14 unanswered points. The Spartans were able to drive the field again in the fourth quarter and take the lead, 20-19.

After battling into the fourth quarter, the game was forced into three overtimes, where the Michigan State Spartans were able to take away the game, 33-30.

Throughout the game, there were consistent ups and downs for the Bulldogs. In the end, here are five improvements that will need to happen in 2012 if the Bulldogs look to repeat their run to the SEC Championship Game. 

Offensive Consistency

Georgia has been very good at times offensively this season. They have been virtually unstoppable. There have also been occasions that they have played with zero consistency and will find ways to dig themselves into major holes.

When their rushing attack is hampered by injuries and suspensions is when Georgia hurts the most for consistency, as a wealth of their offense is designed to run off of the play action pass. What Georgia showed against Michigan State was inconsistency that cost them the game.

Michigan State was able to play well enough on defense to stop Georgia late in the fourth quarter, setting up a long drive for the explosive Spartans offense. Georgia will be unstoppable in the 2012 season and has a great shot at running the table in the East if they can find consistency offensively. It all starts in the backfield for the Bulldogs, but so far, there doesn’t appear to be a solution. 

Find Better Tackle Control

The Bulldogs are a very aggressive and effective defense. One thing that is extremely noticeable for the Bulldogs is their ability to surround the football. The problem that the Bulldogs seem to have is in the form tackling area. The Bulldogs always seem to attempt the “big” hit.

There are times where the Bulldogs look like studs when the big hits land big plays and knock offensive players to the ground. There are numerous times the lack of form tackling bites the Bulldogs.

Against Michigan State, there were numerous miscues defensively, where Georgia had red jerseys piled around the ball carrier, but no one was holding onto the guy in the white jersey. It is almost as if they struck and quit at the point of attack.

If Georgia wants to continue to bring the heat defensively and stop the big-play offenses next season, they have to bring more form tackling to their defensive philosophy. Hard strikes are fun to watch, but too often, they give up big plays.

Beat the Turnover Bug

One of the most irritating parts of football has to be turnovers. Watching a team that is driving and has a solid lead give it away to miscues is frustrating. One thing that the Bulldogs have had trouble with this season is fighting the turnover bug.

The Bulldogs have turned the ball over 22 times before today’s game where Aaron Murray tossed two second half interceptions that proved to be costly, as it set up scoring drives for the Michigan State offense.

Georgia had this game in hand and had the opportunity to close it out when they pushed the game into overtime by allowing the Spartans to find turnovers. Aaron Murray will make better decisions in the coming year. The Bulldogs rushers should have better hands as well. Either way, this cannot be a recurring theme in 2012.

Continue to Grow in the Secondary

The Georgia secondary hosts a group of playmakers that have been very effective against opposing offense throughout the year. At times, however, the secondary has the propensity to give up the big play. The Bulldogs showed that today, as Kirk Cousins was able to hit a number of big throws.

Georgia relies on playmakers like Bacarri Rambo to keep the secondary alive, as he did today, but the Bulldogs can’t always rely on their big players to make huge plays. They have to find consistency, especially in zone coverage.  

The Bulldogs can be extremely dangerous this coming season if guys like Rambo decide to stick around. 

Play Better Assignment Defense

Georgia was caught with their pants down more than a few times in the second half. There were points that the Spartans didn’t have to make much of an effort to make plays in the passing game, as there were no Bulldogs to be found in the remote area of the receivers.

Michigan State was able to pick apart the Georgia zone defense and was also able to keep great protection on Kirk Cousins. The inability for the Georgia Bulldogs to play consistently sound assignment football is what led to this game spiraling out of the control of Georgia.

Georgia has to coach up their young defense for the 2012 season so that they don’t just seem to run around without much direction. The Georgia squad is strong enough to make plays on the fly, but making plays in space isn’t good enough to be a mainstay in the new SEC.