CARSON, Calif. -- The Todd Gurley of old seemingly made an appearance at StubHub Center on Saturday, during a joint practice against the Los Angeles Chargers that was attended by only a few thousand season-ticket holders. Tackling wasn't allowed, but the Los Angeles Rams' star running back hit holes decisively and aggressively, putting together a handful of long runs toward the middle of the field and also bouncing one outside during 11-on-11 drills.

Rams coach Sean McVay saw "a violent runner."

"He did a great job of getting it out into the open field," McVay said, "and there was a couple where he's reading it one gap at a time on some of the schemes we have, and you can feel his speed once he gets to the corner. He's a guy that has been motivated and has been a standout throughout the offseason program, and it's been the same throughout camp. We're expecting big things from Todd."

Gurley, drafted 10th overall out of Georgia, was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2015. He rushed for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns despite starting only 12 games. But his production slipped in 2016, with 885 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 278 carries.

Chargers running back Melvin Gordon, taken five spots behind Gurley in 2015, was excited for Saturday because it marked the first time he would see Gurley play in person.

"I'm cool with him," Gordon said, "but obviously we both want to be and are fighting to be the best. My first year I didn't do so well, and I kind of watched him. And my second year, I did a little better than he did. So this year's going to tell it all."

The Rams' secondary was beaten downfield a few times by Philip Rivers and a talented Chargers offense, though five starters -- Aaron Donald, Dominique Easley, Michael Brockers, Robert Quinn and Lamarcus Joyner -- were not on the field. The Rams' passing attack, meanwhile, was hit-and-miss. Standout Chargers linebacker Melvin Ingram penetrated consistently and second-year Rams quarterback Jared Goff kept most of his throws short. The short throws are seemingly a necessity at the moment, with three receivers who are expected to be deep threats -- Tavon Austin, Mike Thomas and Josh Reynolds -- nursing leg injuries. Several of Goff's throwing plays were play-action rollouts that consisted of him dumping it off to a tight end or a running back or a slot receiver, of which the Rams have plenty.

Goff, efficient for most of the afternoon, maintained that it was largely a function of how the Chargers defended him.

"You can't go broke taking a deposit," he said, "so you just take what they give you."

Goff looked sharp during a two-minute drill that resulted in a field goal, but it was Gurley who impressed, displaying the feel and the burst that made him one of the game's best running backs just two seasons ago.

When told that McVay called him a "violent runner," Gurley said: "I'll take that all day, for sure. We've just got to keep working, coming out here getting better. I feel like it was a pretty good day overall."