Georgia Football: 5 Things the Bulldogs Learned from Last Year

2011 was a year where the Bulldogs started slow, picked things up in the middle of the season and then ended on a sour note with losses to LSU and Michigan State.

There were a lot of good things the Bulldogs did last season, but there were also some things that they have to improve on before they can take that next step.

When the season ended, I did a story on the five things we learned from the Bulldogs in 2011 where I talk about finding a consistent running game and the strong play of the linebackers.

This time, I want to talk about what the team learned and what they can take away from a season where they could have done more.

Here are five things the Bulldogs learned from last season.

They Will Miss Brandon Boykin

A versatile player is always good to have on a football team, and Boykin was one of the most versatile players to every play at Sanford Stadium.

The Paul Horning Award winner is the only player in SEC history to have three 100-yard plays of any kind.

Boykin excelled on offense, defense and special teams, and I bet you there are players who are wishing he was able to come back for one more season.

At the same time, they know he has a long career ahead of him in the NFL.

They Are Glad to Have Jarvis Jones

As much as the Bulldogs will miss Boykin, they are glad that Jones will be back for another season.

Last season, the All-American linebacker led the SEC in sacks and tackles for losses. Jones gave the defense an edge which is something that it was missing since David Pollack was in Athens making plays.

With Jones and the rest of the starting linebackers returning this season, they will be a dangerous unit and will be the reason the Bulldogs go back the SEC title game.

They Can Win in Jacksonville

There are times when Georgia goes down to Jacksonville to play the annual Georgia-Florida game and lose despite being a way better team than the Gators.

Last year was not the case as the Bulldogs came from behind and defeated their rivals to extend their winning streak.

Can they do it again this season? Absolutely because once again, the Bulldogs should be the better team.

It's just a matter of executing and not making the mistakes they normally make when they play in Jacksonville.

The Dream Team Stategy Worked

Last season, Mark Richt had the idea of getting the top recruits from Georgia to play for the Bulldogs, and they would be called the "Dream Team."

The tactic worked as they signed the top two players in the state in Ray Drew and Isaiah Crowell.

Drew did not play a whole lot but is expected to see a lot more action this year. Crowell has his ups and downs, but he was named SEC Freshman of the Year.

Malcolm Mitchell, Chris Conley and Corey Moore were key contributors in the Bulldogs' success last season, and they are only expected to get better.

It was a recruiting move that seemed improbable, but the coaching staff was able to pull it off, and it seems like it's paying dividends.

They Have to Find a Way to Win the Big Games

The Bulldogs won 10 games and were able to reach the SEC Championship.

However, the four losses that they suffered were against ranked opponents, and their 10 wins were against teams that were unranked.

Boise State, South Carolina, LSU and Michigan State were the teams that handed the Bulldogs losses and had they won those games, they would not only be SEC champions, they would be in the running for a national title.

This year, the Bulldogs have to find a way to win the big games and show the fans as well as themselves they have taken that next step.