The UCLA football team’s Friday scrimmage at Spaulding Field turned into an indicator of the progress the coaches want to see from the offense before the spring game next Saturday at the Rose Bowl.
The running backs found almost no room to run as defensive linemen Brian Price and Brigham Harwell dominated. Quarterback Pat Cowan took reps with the first team but didn’t throw a touchdown and completed just 3-of-8 passes.
The Bruins practice today, Tuesday and Thursday before heading to the Rose Bowl on Saturday.
“We need to improve dramatically in the throw game between now and the end of the week so that we give ourselves a springboard toward the offseason and into the fall,” coach Rick Neuheisel said after the scrimmage.
While Neuheisel focused on the passing game, it was the running attack that struggled the most. Top running backs Christian Ramirez, Chane Moline and Craig Sheppard totaled just 26 yards on 26 carries.
“I’m going to just say that it was a really good job by our defensive front,” Neuheisel said.
Throughout the spring, Neuheisel has made it a point to credit the 297-pound Price and 292-pound Harwell for their presence inside.
Price, who started five games as a freshman in 2007, has had a great camp playing alongside Harwell, a veteran who has been at UCLA since 2004.
“It’s chemistry,” Price said. “We’ve been cool since I got here; (Harwell) took me under his wing when I first came here. We’re both strong, so we just try to push the pocket in the middle to get more sacks and cause more interceptions.”
There were a few flashes of excellence from the offense, though. Cowan connected with wide receiver Marcus Everett on a perfect post route, and junior college transfer Kevin Craft found receiver Gavin Ketchum on a deep fade, which Neuheisel called “beautiful.”
Junior Terrence Austin had a solid showing at receiver, too. He caught a couple of passes from quarterback Ben Olson. Afterward, Austin said he thinks the new offense installed by coordinator Norm Chow will be a big boost for the Bruins.
“I really do believe this offense has opened up a lot more doors for us,” Austin said. “Last year we were kind of stationary to a certain play that was called. Now we have a lot more options.”
Austin also took back two punts during the scrimmage. He returned 31 punts last year for the Bruins, but Neuheisel said he hasn’t decided for sure who will return punts this season.
“We haven’t made a foregone conclusion,” Neuheisel said. “It’s not to say that Austin won’t be the guy; I just think right now we’re working the scheme more than the personnel.”
For now, Neuheisel is focused on the offensive line and passing game, not special teams. He said he’d like to see more “precision” from the quarterbacks.
“We’ve just got to get a little crisper,” Neuheisel said. “All the guys in the throwing game have to take it on themselves.”
QUICK HITS: After the scrimmage, Neuheisel said he was disappointed with the lighting at the field and regretted scheduling a night scrimmage … Sheppard went down with an injured shoulder, but Neuheisel said it wasn’t serious … Wide receiver Ben Bruneau had to play running back after Sheppard went down … Two of UCLA’s top incoming recruits, E.J. Woods, a defensive back from Encino, and Nick Crissman, a quarterback from Huntington Beach, were at the scrimmage … Former Bruins Chris Markey and Shannon Tevaga were on hand as well.