Off-Topic » was scheduled for furth

Continuity paid off for the Los Angeles Rams' offense last season Chidobe Awuzie Jersey , starting with the same offensive line combination that played together in all but one game.

It certainly did for running back Todd Gurley, who signed a four-year, $60 million contract extension in July after running for 1,305 yards and scoring 19 total touchdowns last season behind that familiar front five.

"Whoever said money don't make you happy lied," Gurley said with a smile Wednesday.

The Rams expect even greater stability on offense to translate into continued success in head coach Sean McVay's second season, a belief that has been reinforced during the start of training camp.

At this same stage last year, the Rams were working in new additions at left tackle, center and wide receiver while learning the basics of a new offense, and were still weeks away from trading for wide receiver Sammy Watkins. They return 10 of 11 starters for this year's workouts at UC Irvine, with new acquisition Brandin Cooks replacing Watkins as the big play threat in the passing game.

Quarterback Jared Goff said the familiarity is paying dividends, especially during the transition from teaching the offense in the first few days to refining each element of a system that produced an NFL-leading 29.9 points per game.

"We feel like we're in a good spot," Goff said. "Offensively, we've been starting to click. I think today was the first day you really felt that consistency starting to gel. We're not so much installing anymore, we're running the same plays over and over again and starting to get a good feel with it."

"It makes everyone so much more comfortable just to come out here and just play our game. You don't have to think about too much Sean Mannion Jersey , and that's what it is all about," Gurley said.

For Goff, his increased comfort level entering his second season as the starter manifests in a better understanding of what opposing defenses are trying to do.

"It just continues to slow down," Goff said. "Your pre-snap process is a lot smoother, and you're more under control of everything and are seeing things better."

While Goff is playing faster, there has been no deceleration by Gurley after signing a contract featuring the most guaranteed money for a running back in NFL history. Goff and McVay both praised his relentlessness in practice, with a prime example coming when Gurley kept running towards the end zone as McVay was setting up the next play in the sequence.

"I got what I want, now let's keep going," Gurley said. "Nothing doesn't stop. The grind continues. It's going to be even harder now, obviously, to be able to do what I did last year, and teams are going to game plan for it. It's my job to go out there, put myself in a great position and try to work as hard as I can. As long as I do that, I feel comfortable with the players around me and the coaches around me to put me in a great position."

With so much familiarity returning Eric Dickerson Jersey , Gurley is ready to build on his best season to date. But he understands his individual production is the result of what the offense does together, declaring that every running back is the beneficiary of the blocking he gets before Gurley backtracked.

"Obviously, Barry Sanders is going to do what he do, but it doesn't matter what other running back you have back there. If you don't have all 11 doing one thing, then it's not going to work," he said.

NOTES: Outside linebacker Matt Longacre left practice early because of an undisclosed injury. . Kicker Greg Zuerlein made a 63-yard field goal during a simulated two-minute drill.

__

The 49ers appear to have found a promising piece for second-year coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense if the first week of training camp is any indication.

Rookie Dante Pettis, a receiver drafted in the second round out of Washington, has been a quick study in Shanahan’s complex scheme. He’s also been a tough cover for opposing defensive backs, evident by his string of catches against the starting defense in full-team drills.

In fact, Pettis closed Wednesday’s practice by catching a 45-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo, speeding by promising second-year player Ahkello Witherspoon, after earlier beating All-Pro Richard Sherman for a catch on a crossing route.

Pettis’ ability to get open against physical NFL cornerbacks was a question mark after he was drafted. But Shanahan made a sizable bet that Pettis could do it given his work as a punt returner. Pettis set the NCAA record with nine punt return touchdowns during his four college seasons. He has been difficult to jam at the line of scrimmage in the early going.

”If you can make guys miss with your feet when you have the ball in your hand, you should be able to do it in routes, too Da'Norris Searcy Jersey ,” Shanahan said. ”To combine that with his speed and his hands and his intelligence, which he is very smart, you feel pretty confident that he’s going to continue to get better.”

The 49ers traded up 15 spots in the second round to draft Pettis to add to a receiving corps headlined by dependable veteran Pierre Garcon and speedster Marquise Goodwin, who has also looked good during recent practices.

Shanahan is hoping the offense can continue to progress after ranking third in yardage (410) and fifth in points per game (28.8) during the five-game winning streak with Garoppolo as a starter to end 2017.

While Goodwin, a former Olympic long jumper, has textbook sprinting form, Pettis has anything but. He has long limbs and an awkward running style. But he still finds ways to move efficiently and get separation from defenders. He first figured out he had unique movement skills in the seventh grade.

”I would watch film of me running and I was like, `Why do I run so different than everybody else?’ I didn’t really get it and then I was just like `All right, that’s just how I run’ and kind of accepted it,” said Pettis.

Recent 49ers first-round draft picks have been bitten by the injury bug. Guard Joshua Garnett hasn’t practiced since banging knees with a teammate Saturday and is listed as day to day.

Jimmie Ward has been sidelined since midway through Tuesday’s practice with a hamstring injury, though he could return as soon as Friday. Defensive lineman Arik Armstead is also dealing with a hamstring issue and has been listed as week-to-week.

Ward and Armstead are expected to have significant roles for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who indicated he’s not overly concerned about their absences from camp. But given NFL teams are allowed just 14 padded practices during the regular season, they are missing opportunities to hone their crafts.

”Anyone who’s missing reps right now is missing valuable time,” said Saleh. ”If you’re not getting your practice reps Ibraheim Campbell Jersey , someone’s going to pass you up. But, at the same time, those guys are doing a great job in walk through and meetings and making sure they’re getting all of their mental reps so that when they do come back, they won’t skip a beat.”

NOTES: TE Cole Wick suffered a knee injury during team drills Thursday and was scheduled for further testing, the team said. … LB Brock Coyle (hip) is expected to work back into practice next week, as will offensive lineman JP Flynn (knee) . LT Joe Staley, WR Pierre Garcon, CB Richard Sherman, RB Jerick McKinnon, DT Earl Mitchell, DT DeForest Buckner and LB Malcolm Smith were given Thursday off.

—

Adidas Dustin Brown Jersey ,