UCLA’s Rick Neuheisel goes on tirade after bad end to practice

UCLA’s practice ended with a red-faced coach Wednesday.

Rick Neuheisel huddled his team and delivered a post-practice tirade, at one point shouting, “I can’t be the only one who cares.”

The scene followed a poor end to practice, with bad center snaps and penalties hindering the offensive preparation. The Bruins had three illegal procedure penalties during one two-minute offense drill. Center Greg Capella, who will start in place of the suspended Kai Maiava, struggled with snaps.

UCLA lost to Houston, 38-34, Saturday and will face San Jose State this week.

“The lack of concentration, jumping off sides, that’s ridiculous,” Neuheisel said. “That’s just lazy. We got to have tougher minded guys.”

Neuheisel said the practice “started great” but dissolved at the end.

“I don’t know if it was the heat or we were tired or we’re not eating during the day, but we were not as sharp as they needed to be,” Neuheisel said.

Neuheisel personally supervised Capella’s extra work after practice.

“Sometimes I rush and don’t follow through with the ball,” Capella said. “I start worrying about my block.”

The post-practice tongue lashing was understandable, quarterback Richard Brehaut said.

“We’re tired of ‘Oh, UCLA came up short, Oh, UCLA beat themselves,’ ” Brehaut said. “That’s old news. I’m tired of that. I think everyone is tired of that. Coach just wants us to care about the program. He wants us to care as much as he does.”

Brehaut said the lackadaisical finish to practice had nothing to do with taking San Jose State lightly.

“We’re 0-1 not 1-0, so it’s not like we’re sitting up high,” Brehaut said.

Free kicks

Kicker Kip Smith had one of his best days of practice Wednesday, making all nine field goal attempts. Only one wobbled across the cross bar.

“I changed my technique a little and we’ve changed the hold” of the ball, Smith said. “I’m making my leg swing more like a golf swing, more fluid. Watching on film, my kicks were pushing to the right because I wasn’t following through right.”

Neuheisel said that there would be “competition” for the kicker job this week. Smith has been the only one to kick thus far.

Joe Roberts has a sore leg muscle and Jeff Locke continues to handle punts and kickoffs.

Prince update

Quarterback Kevin Prince resumed practice, testing his sprained right shoulder Wednesday.

“It was better,” Prince said. “I was able to throw some. I wasn’t able to throw everything I wanted.”

Prince said there was pain on “some of the deeper throws when I tried to put a little more grip on it.” Prince said he expected it to be better Thursday.

Neuheisel said Prince would be available for the game, but “I don’t know how much he will play.” He also said he wasn’t ready to name Brehaut the starter.

Quick hits

Albert Cid will start at guard this week, filling Capella’s spot, Neuheisel said. … Linebacker Glenn Love (dislocated shoulder) will be out at least another week, Neuheisel said. … Defensive lineman Wesley Flowers, out the last three weeks after suffering a collapsed lung, has been cleared to resume workouts, starting with a week of conditioning.

chris.foster@latimes.com

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