ATHENS, Ga. - Georgia's meager total of five interceptions for 2004 was the lowest since the school began tracking the statistic in 1948, and it ranked 113th in Division I-A.
It was no surprise, then, that coach Mark Richt made takeaways an emphasis for 2005, and his No. 7 Bulldogs have responded.
Georgia and in-state rival Georgia Tech are tied for first in the nation with 12 takeaways. (The two schools tied for 92nd in 2004 with 17 takeaways.)
Georgia already has passed its 2004 total with seven interceptions and it has forced five fumbles in its 3-0 start. The Bulldogs have lost five turnovers, leaving them with a plus-seven ratio - first in the Southeastern Conference and fifth in the nation - as they prepare to visit Mississippi State Saturday night.
Said Richt Tuesday: "That's awesome."
"I'm just thrilled about it. I'm glad we started high and we're continuing to do it."
Richt says he places more emphasis on the turnover ratio than any other statistic.
"That was one of the things I said early on, of all the stats that there are in football, that's the one that I would love to continue to place real high because that does seem to have a real big factor in how many games you win."
Richt and his players have no explanation as to why a 2004 defense stacked with such big-name players as David Pollack, Thomas Davis and Odell Thurman could not force more turnovers. Tim Jennings led the defense with two interceptions, and Pollack was the only player with as many as two fumble recoveries.
"We tackled hard," said Richt of the 2004 defense. "The ball usually comes out when you tackle hard. We probably dropped more (interceptions) last year than we have this year. We've dropped some this year. I know of at least two more interceptions we could have had this year - pretty easy catches, I would say."
Through three games, Quentin Moses already has two fumble recoveries as Pollack's replacement at defensive end, and safety Tra Battle leads the team with two interceptions. Five others have one interception each.
Linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler says new defensive coordinator Willie Martinez and Richt placed an early emphasis on making big plays.
"Coming into this year, causing more turnovers was something that Coach Martinez really wanted to emphasize," he said. "This year we have a much better turnover ratio. Turnovers fire up the defense, take the crowd out of the game on the road or get the crowd into the game at home, and it can both create momentum for you and kill momentum for your opponent.
"Causing a lot of turnovers shows a lot of defensive character."
The turnover ratio statistic also is a bragging point for the offense, including first-year starting quarterback D.J. Shockley, who has thrown only two interceptions with six touchdown passes.
"I rank it real high," Shockley said. "People say if you don't turn the ball over it's hard to lose games. That can change the momentum of the game."
Georgia has scored 47 points off the 12 turnovers. Georgia's opponents have scored only six points off the Bulldogs' turnovers. Against Louisiana-Monroe, Georgia turned four takeaways into 20 points.
"It's a huge momentum-builder, especially when you get the ball on their side of the field," Shockley said. "It's kind of our way to give back to the defense when we can take the ball and score when they give us the ball."
Added Shockley: "Coming into the first game Coach Richt talked about how our defense needed more turnovers after having only five interceptions last year. Now it seems like every game they're causing havoc somewhere. That's been great for our defense and great for our offense."
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