Rams’ Todd Gurley feels good during workouts

The cutbacks looked crisp, the bursts quick.

Rams running back Todd Gurley moved laterally to his right and left during a full-team workout this week, his running not restricted to a sideline and a straight line.

That was the situation during organized team activities last year, when Gurley, the 10th pick of the 2015 NFL draft, was recovering from knee surgery.

He went on to become a Pro Bowl pick and the league’s offensive rookie of the year, and he appears to be using OTAs, which continue Friday, to build upon that success.

“He’s doing everything to the point where you almost say, ‘Let’s back down a little bit,’” Rams Coach Jeff Fisher said.

Gurley, 21, is part of a running back group that includes Benny Cunningham, Malcolm Brown, Chase Reynolds and undrafted free agent Aaron Green. Tre Mason is not participating in OTA workouts in the aftermath of his March arrest in Florida on misdemeanor drug and driving-related charges.

Gurley said he was happy to be back on the field and “do football stuff” after last year’s limited OTA experience, when he mainly worked on the sideline with trainers while teammates went through drills. Gurley had torn the ACL in his left knee in a game against Auburn during his junior season at Georgia.

His activity increased during the Rams’ training camp, but he was brought along slowly. He did not play in the first two games and carried the ball six times for nine yards in the third before rushing for 128 yards or more in four consecutive games. He finished with 1,106 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. He also caught 21 passes.

Gurley said he would seek to improve as a receiver this season.

“Definitely, routes and catching,” he said after Wednesday’s workout. “I’ve got to get more catches this year, stay healthy and then run the ball.

“Get my line right and make sure we start off strong and finish strong. But most definitely I want to work on catching.”

The 6-foot-1 Gurley said he prepared for the start of OTAs by eating better and training in the weight room. He is listed on the roster at 227 pounds, but he appears to be about 10 pounds lighter. The drop was not planned, he said.

“It’s probably just having the first offseason not doing anything for about a month or two,” he said. “I feel fine how I am. I’m not going to add weight.”

Despite Gurley’s outstanding rookie season, the Rams ranked last in the NFL in passing and total offense in 2015.

They have reconfigured the offensive staff and traded up to select quarterback Jared Goff with the first pick of the draft. Goff played in a spread offense at California, so the Rams are expected to add shotgun-formation elements to their scheme.

Gurley said he was adjusting well to offensive coordinator Rob Boras and new running backs coach Skip Peete. Boras was the interim coordinator last season after Frank Cignetti was fired in early December.

“He’s just so relaxed,” Gurley said of Boras. “He’s like, ‘Don’t let me tell you where to run. You just do what you do.’”

Gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimesklein