Rick Neuheisel is searching for an elixir

Late into Saturday night, long after UCLA fans had fled the scene of the Bruins’ crime, Coach Rick Neuheisel declared “We have to fix what is ailing us.”

Now, where do you put the tourniquet?

The 35-0 loss to Stanford, UCLA’s worst home loss since Nebraska’s 42-3 thrashing in 1984, left the Bruins in danger of being declared DOA in the Pacific 10 Conference race.

Neuheisel had a coach-speak to-do list ready: “We got to do a better job of converting third downs and throwing football. We can’t turn the ball over. We had too many fumbles. We can’t afford turnovers.”

The nitty-gritty on how those issues will, or will not, be resolved seemed to center on the Bruins’ quarterback situation.

Kevin Prince labored through nearly three quarters. Backup Richard Brehaut didn’t appear to impress coaches with his one quarter of work. The highly skilled Brett Hundley was on the sideline Saturday, but the Chandler (Ariz.) High senior won’t be eligible until next fall.

So …

Asked whether Prince is still the starter, Neuheisel said, “We haven’t made that determination. We’ll watch in practice this week.”

Prince, named the starter before spring practice, completed six of 12 passes for 39 yards. On third down, late in the first half, he lobbed a pass to the goal line that was easily intercepted. Prince, bothered by back and shoulder problems since mid-August, has thrown for 159 yards in two games.

Neuheisel said that the Bruins’ offensive woes were something “you can’t put a finger on one thing.” Then he went on to mostly point the finger at his quarterback, saying, “Whether the quarterback is misfiring or the quarterback is not getting the read to open receiver, or the protection isn’t there, there are a number of things. … We have been better throwing the football and we’ve been better with these guys.”

As to whether it is a health issue with Prince, Neuheisel said, “We’re just dealing with basic soreness. I don’t think it requires an MRI” exam.

Brehaut completed five of nine passes for 42 yards and had one pass intercepted, though it was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Offensive coordinator Norm Chow assessed his performance after the game as “typical.” He elaborated, saying, “He misread a couple things. He threw a couple balls where I had no idea where they were going.”

But, Chow said, “It’s hard when you come in cold like that.”

As for Prince, Chow said, “He didn’t get the job done.”

So the drill this week is simple.

“I think we made it clear to the quarterbacks, Norm and I, that we have to play the position better,” Neuheisel said. “Obviously, there will be competition.”

Offensive gaffes

The Bruins were one for nine on third down and are four for 22 through two games. UCLA fumbled five times, losing two. And then there were the penalties.

Three times, drives deep into Stanford territory were killed by penalties, a holding call on wide receiver Ricky Marvray in the second quarter, a false start by guard Eddie Williams in the second quarter and a personal foul by Marvray in the fourth quarter.

Coleman out of hospital

UCLA running back Derrick Coleman was released from Huntington Hospital early Sunday morning after it was determined he had a concussion and strained neck. Coleman was knocked out running with the ball in the third quarter.

chris.foster@latimes.com

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