Offensive-minded Richt content to let defense win games

<p>As a disciple of Bobby Bowden, Mark Richt learned a thing or two about putting points on the scoreboard.</p><p>Lots of points.</p><p>When Richt arrived at Georgia four seasons ago, it was only natural to assume that his keen offensive mind would transform the Bulldogs into another throw-the-ball-all-over-the-field, need-a-calculator-to-keep-up-with-score powerhouse.</p><p>But a funny thing happened.</p><p>Richt lost three close games in 2001, which taught him the value of defense, special teams, field position, turnover ratio and all those other old-school principles that weren't supposed to apply to a new-age coach.</p><p>"Real fast, I learned the value of a victory _ regardless of how you win it," said Richt, whose team was off this week. "Style points don't matter."</p><p>Heading into a key game against defensive Southeastern Conference champion LSU, the No. 3 Bulldogs (3-0) are following a familiar pattern.</p><p>Defensively, they are one of the nation's stingiest teams, a speedy, hard-hitting group led by David Pollack and Thomas Davis. Offensively, they have struggled to find any sort of rhythm, which has led to tougher-than-expected wins over South Carolina and Marshall.</p><p>Granted, the season is still young. Even so, Georgia has to be bothered by its low national standing in two key offensive categories: 52nd in points (27 per game) and 50th in yards (386.7).</p><p>"We've obviously not started like we wanted to," quarterback David Greene said. "It's been a little frustrating, but the thing is, we're winning. That's the key. Sometimes, you just start slow. But we'll get our rhythm going."</p><p>Actually, there's no precedent during the Richt era for an offensive breakout.</p><p>In the coach's first season, Georgia ranked 21st in yards and 45th in points. The following year, the Bulldogs won their first SEC championship in two decades with an offense that ranked 49th in yards and 22nd in points. Last season, they made it back to the SEC title game (and lost to LSU) despite ranking 58th in yards and 64th in points.</p><p>"Yeah, I would like to score more points," Richt said. "But victory is paramount."</p><p>In that respect, he's doing just fine. After going 8-4 in his rookie season _ including losses to South Carolina, Auburn and Boston College by a combined 16 points _ Richt has guided the Bulldogs to a 27 wins in their last 31 games.</p><p>While there's some grumbling on the Internet and in talk radio circles, no one is complaining too loudly about a team that gets bogged down with the occasional dropped pass, errant throw, missed block or ill-advised cutback.</p><p>"Hey, we're winning," receiver Fred Gibson said. "That's all you can ask for. We're right where we want to be. We just got to pick it up a little bit."</p><p>Richt is more hopeful about the offense than he was last season, when an inexperienced line gave up an SEC-leading 47 sacks. Greene took an awful beating; not surprisingly, he had the fewest touchdown passes (13) and most interceptions (11) of his career.</p><p>Poised to become the winningest quarterback in NCAA history, Greene still looks a bit uncomfortable when he drops back to a pass _ even though a revamped line (massive Max Jean-Gilles moved from tackle to guard) has surrendered only three sacks.</p><p>Maybe there's a hangover from 2003.</p><p>"Could be," Richt said. "It takes time to get used to the pocket again."</p><p>Greene hasn't gotten much help from his tight ends, with both Martrez Milner and Leonard Pope displaying hands of stone. Then there's the running game, still struggling to establish a No. 1 back.</p><p>The logical candidate is freshman Danny Ware, who rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns in the opener. But he missed most of the South Carolina game and all of Marshall with a bruised lung.</p><p>If Ware returns for LSU, as expected, that should bring a semblance of order to an unsettled position.</p><p>Despite all the problems, Richt is encouraged by what he sees on film. Last season, it took time to document all the breakdowns. This season, it's usually no more than one player not doing his job.</p><p>"Sometimes, it's just a guy not getting his block on the right side of defender," Richt said. "A screen pass that could have gone for 40 yards makes only 2 yards, or minus-2."</p><p>He can't help longing for the days when it seemed like every play worked. In his last season as Florida State's offensive coordinator, the Seminoles led the nation in yards (549 per game) and were third in scoring (42.4).</p><p>"Everybody would like to see more points on the board," Richt said, "including myself."</p>

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