It’s hard to be overly critical about an 11-win season at Georgia, because it’s not like they happen every year. It’s only happened 11 times in the school’s 115-year football history.

But the bar has been set high now, and Kirby Smart’s third year against Georgia has to be considered something of a disappointment for the 11-3 Bulldogs, who had national championship aspirations but then failed to make the Playoff and then got drubbed in a bowl game.

Still, there were plenty of wonderful moments this season, and a few downers. Here’s what I liked — and didn’t like — about the Bulldogs’ 2018 season:

What I liked

Another pair of 1,000-yard running backs

When Nick Chubb and Sony Michel left, the thought of replacing two of the three best backs in school history seemed daunting. But the Bulldogs didn’t miss a beat in 2018, with running back D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield both topping 1,000 yards this season. It’s the first time in college football history that a school had two 1,000-yard rushers in back-to-back seasons that weren’t the same guys. Georgia was actually even a bit better in 2018, averaging 5.9 yards per carry, a tick better than the 5.8 yards a year ago.

Jake Fromm among the nation’s best QBs

Georgia sophomore Jake Fromm finished No. 3 in the country in passing efficiency this season, behind only Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, and just a smidge better than Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins, who was also a Heisman finalist. He’ll be a Heisman finalist himself next year, more than likely. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,761 yards and 30 touchdowns. Fromm was a team leader who made several big plays, and he held off Justin Fields for playing time. Sure, he missed a few throws here and there and his worst two games were in losses to LSU and Texas, but he’s one of the best and the Bulldogs are glad to have him.

Mecole Hardman provides excitement every week

Georgia has a lot of weapons on their receiving room, but Mecole Hardman was special and a blast to watch all season. He had 34 catches for 532 yards and 7 touchdowns, and he was also a huge threat in the return game. He had a punt return for a touchdown and led the team with a 25.2-yard average on kick returns. Every time he touched the ball, he seemed like a threat to go all the way. That’s a fun guy to have on your team.

D’Andre Walker a one-man wrecking crew — by default

Georgia finished 12th in the SEC in sacks with only 24 all season, and there was only one player who had multiple sacks before the bowl game, D’Andre Walker. He finished the season with 7.5 sacks and he was missed in the bowl game loss to Texas. He missed the game with an injury suffered in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama. Walker was a leader of this defensive front, a young group that’s going to continue to get better.

Defense turned games around immediately

One of the things that helped Georgia win its first 6 games was its ability to jump out to quick leads. That was because the defense forced turnovers on opponents’ first possessions three times and it allowed the Bulldogs’ offense to feel comfortable from the get-go playing with a lead.

What I didn’t like

Letting lead slip away against Alabama again

Two years in a row now, Georgia had a chance to beat No. 1 Alabama and they let it slip away in the fourth quarter both times. Sure, Alabama is great and all that, but the Bulldogs let one — and maybe two — national championships slip away. It’s nice to think you’ll have a chance at winning national championships all the time, but reality says otherwise. Georgia let golden opportunities slip away two years in a row.

Calling fake kicks at the wrong time

Georgia coach Kirby Smart tried a fake field goal early in the LSU loss that blew up in his face. Then, at a really bad time, he tried a horrible fake punt in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama that never had a chance. Both plays seemed to be called out of desperation, and there was no need for that. Georgia had the talent to win those games on their own, and Smart took some of that edge away. I hope he learned from his mistakes.

Poor nonconference schedule left them unprepared

Georgia got no benefit out of its four nonconference games against Austin Peay, Middle Tennessee, UMass and Georgia Tech. The two losses probably were enough for the College Football Playoff committee to leave the Bulldogs on the outside looking in, but not having any worthwhile nonconference wins didn’t help either. That changes next year, thankfully, when Notre Dame visits Athens on Sept. 21.

Getting pushed around by LSU and Texas in losses

One of the most frustrating things about the losses to LSU and Texas was that Georgia got beat the way it likes to beat people. In both losses, they got pushed around on both sides of the ball, and it was the opponent who was the aggressor. There seemed to be a little sense of entitlement with this Georgia team this year, and that needs to change going forward.

Showing up at a bowl game all full of themselves

That entitlement we talked about can’t be a situation at the end of the year. Granted, there might be been some sense of disappointment in playing in the Sugar Bowl instead of one of the Playoff games, but that’s still no excuse. Georgia has put itself in a position to contend for titles every year, and that means closing out every game regardless of its importance.