49ers offense going through learning curve

A couple of passes bounced off receivers’ hands into defenders for interceptions. Even more were dropped. Then there were the throws that didn’t get made because the quarterback got sacked.

The installation of new coach Kyle Shanahan’s complex offense for the San Francisco 49ers remains a work in progress with just one week left in the offseason program.

“It’s part of the process. Growing pains isn’t a bad term,” offensive line coach John Benton said Thursday. “Obviously it’s not acceptable. As far as anything, we have to learn how to practice. I thought we had a real good day the other day. If you start doing that see-saw effect, you’ll be in trouble all year.”

With a new system, new coaching staff and new players at many key positions on offense starting with quarterback Brian Hoyer, the 49ers are trying to do the best they can to get up to speed on offense after a rough 2016 season.

The players are trying to learn an offense that is wordier and much more complex than the one run by coach Chip Kelly last year. The coaches are trying to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the players and the team is working on finding the rhythm necessary in an offense that relies heavily on precision from all 11 players.

“For us, we’re in the beginning stages of building the foundation for this offense,” Hoyer said. “We’ve got to start from the bottom, learn all the concepts. Having played for Kyle before things were very weekto-week on who we were playing but you’ve got to know the base offense before you can get there. I think that’s where we’re at right now, trying to get timing down with everybody, throwing to different receivers, different plays, just kind of learning that base offense.”

One aspect that is easing the transition is a number of key acquisitions with ties to Shanahan, including Hoyer, receiver Pierre Garcon and running back Tim Hightower.