Falcons need to add offensive line depth, but how?

As well as the Falcons’ offensive line played last season, adding depth will be a priority during free agency and the NFL draft.

Offensive line coach Paul Boudreau did one of the most remarkable jobs — league wide — with the unit. He and his staff took most of the same players who gave up 47 sacks in 2007 and turned them into a unit that gave up just 17 sacks (fifth lowest in the league) this season. The group also paved the way for the league’s second leading rushing attack (152.7 yards per game).

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Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Falcons coach Mike Smith said his offensive line that was billed as possibly the worst in the NFL took the criticism personally.

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“The preseason pundits were talking about this might be the worst offensive line in the NFL,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “I think the guys kind of took it personally.”

The unit expects to return starters left tackle Sam Baker, left guard Justin Blalock, center Todd McClure, right guard Harvey Dahl and right tackle Tyson Clabo.

The key issue along the line will be building depth in case of injury. Other than Baker, who started five games and played in eight others, the Falcons were injury free last season. Baker suffered a concussion early and had lower back surgery. The rest of the starters answered the bell in all 16 regular-season games.

McClure, a 10-year veteran, pulled the unit together. He has started 112 consecutive games dating back to 2001. The Falcons may elect to draft and start training his heir apparent.

“We’d like to have him for a number of years longer,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “The reality is that we also have to be cognizant of the future. So it’s important that we do our due diligence when we are researching the offensive linemen and the interior line.”

The unit suffered a major blow with the retirement of left tackle Todd Weiner last week after 11 years in the league. When Baker went down, Weiner started 11 games.

“We were fortunate to have Todd around for one year during our tenure, myself and this staff,” Dimitroff said. “With that said, we are sorry that he decided to retired.

“What we got out of him this year was incredibly top notch, top of the line. He was a very important part of us getting to the playoffs.”

With Weiner retired, the Falcons will have to add some depth at tackle. This isn’t considered a strong free agency class for tackles.

After drafting Baker in the first round in 2008 and Blalock in the second round in 2007, the Falcons will likely address tackle on the second day of the draft or by signing some undrafted rookie free agents.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and continue to be creative in either free agency or the draft,” Dimitroff said. “Or both.”

Tackle Renardo Foster, who started two games and played in seven games in 2007, missed all of last season after knee surgery.

Another intriguing possibility is to re-sign veteran tackle Wayne Gandy. He wants to return to Falcons after March 1, according to his agent Neil Schwartz.

When asked if thought Gandy could fill Weiner’s role, Dimitroff said, “Of course.”

Gandy was signed on Oct. 29 after the Falcons knew Baker would miss extended time after his surgery. The 14-year veteran started the first five games of the 2007 season before suffering a knee injury. He started all 16 games for the Falcons in 2006.

Alex Stepanovich and Ben Wilkerson were the top interior backups.

“It’s always important to have foresight when you are looking at both the offensive and defensive fronts,” Dimitroff said. “You have to always make sure that you have a full stall so that you can continue to grow and develop players along the offensive line in particular.”