UCLA offense is not sharp in scrimmage

It was a ragged Friday night under the lights for UCLA’s offense.

Coach Rick Neuheisel said “we need to improve dramatically in the throwing game.” Offensive coordinator Norm Chow said, “we couldn’t run the ball a lick.”

In other words, the Bruins, with four days left in spring practice, showed they will be a work in progress into fall camp, even if Neuheisel is taking the high road.

“I’m going say it was a really good job by our defense,” he said.

The Bruins’ first and second offensive units had gained less than three yards on 13 of 17 running plays against the first and second defenses, with the longest gain being a six-yard run by Chane Moline. The offensive line had three penalties in the first 14 plays. Quarterbacks Patrick Cowan and Ben Olson labored throughout the workout.

“I know we missed a couple reads and we weren’t pass protecting very well with the first group, I know that,” Chow said. “But I like the eagerness. I like the way we’re trying to get stuff done right.”

But the little stuff perplexed Chow.

“The snap counts were messy, the offsides,” he said. “We can’t have that with one week to go.”

As to whether those things should have cleared up three weeks into spring practice, Chow said, “You’d think so. Maybe it’s the snap count, maybe it’s the way we snap the ball. I told the offense staff we’re in here at 6 a.m. [today] and we’re going to have to figure this thing out. It shouldn’t be this way at this point. We only got another week.”

The offensive line will need more time. The inexperienced group is the most important question the Bruins must answer before the season opener against Tennessee on Sept 1. The Bruins defensive front, led by defensive tackles Brigham Harwell and Brian Price dominated during the scrimmage.

“We’re trying to learn as fast as possible,” guard Scott Glickberg said. “Coach [Bob] Palcic is simplifying things as much as possible. We just have a lot of new guys, that’s all it is. I don’t think it’s the lack of effort or athleticism. I just think we have some guys who need to get comfortable in their positions.”

Neuheisel’s concern was the passing game.

“I just think there needs to be a little more precision, where the timing is on,” he said. “We need to improve dramatically in the next week to springboard into the off-season and fall.”

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Olson got two series with the first offensive unit, completing two of six passes for 19 yards with that group. He was five of 11 for 42 yards and one touchdown overall.

“You got to try to take advantage of any chance you get with the first team,” said Olson, who was the Bruins No. 1 quarterback at the start of the 2006 and 2007 seasons. “I would have liked to have done a little better, but I’ve got to keep working hard and stay positive.”

Cowan played exclusively with the first team, as he has nearly all of spring practice. He completed three of eight passes for 54 yards.

Neither quarterback turned in a smooth performance.

“The problem with a scrimmage is you don’t have game plan,” Chow said. “You’re just trying to get our stuff in. So at times it’s not going to look good.”

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As for the scrimmage overall, Neuheisel said he would have to watch the tape, but added, “I saw some great individual things. Again our defensive tackles Brigham Harwell and Brian Price and [Jerzy Siewierski] did some great things inside.”

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Tailback Craig Sheppard suffered a minor shoulder injury and was held out the second part of the scrimmage, though Neuheisel said he did not think it was serious… . Harwell was listed among the 70 lineman on the preseason watch for the Outland Trophy… . UCLA is holding a junior day today, with about 80 high school players expected to be in attendance.

chris.foster@latimes.com