Flowery Branch — When the Falcons top unit broke the huddle during a Sunday minicamp practice, the offensive line looked shockingly familiar.

Quinn Ojinnaka was at left tackle, Justin Blalock at left guard, Todd McClure at center, Kynan Forney at right guard and Tyson Clabo at right tackle.

That group started the last two games last season. However, the Falcon' offensive line was a jumbled mess last season — mostly due to injury. The Falcons used eight different starting lineups and only used their preferred starting lineup five times. The unit gave up 47 sacks (tied for 26th in the NFL) and averaged 95 yards rushing per game (26th).

Instead of blowing up the offensive line, the Falcons have chosen to re-tool. Their only off-season moves were to add first-round draft pick Sam Baker and sign undrafted rookie free agent Michael Butterworth.

Offensive line coach Paul Boudreau, a 21-year NFL coaching veteran, is charged with restoring the unit. He said not to put too much stock into these minicamp lineups.

"Nothing is itched in stone," Boudreau said. "It's hard to pick out a guy playing in underwear, if you're an offensive lineman. When we get the pads on, get into two-a-days it will all start to clear up."

Last season, the unit was guided by Mike Summers, who was a rookie NFL coach.

"I don't know what their philosophy was," Boudreau said. "I really didn't get into anything, but I told them that I don't know those coaches. Hey, this is what I see on film and this what we have to fix. ... I know that in the past this group has been kind of picked on as far as them being the weak part of our offense.

"I'm changing everything about these guys. If I see something that doesn't fit our system, I'm going to change it. I'm going to try to change it where all five are thinking together and moving together the same way."

Boudreau's plan is to train all linemen at multiple positions. Last season, as St. Louis' offensive line coach, he used 14 different starting lineups because of injury.

In 2007, he used nine different lineups that helped Steven Jackson gain more than 1,500 yards Marc Bulger to pass for more than 4,300 yards.

"We have to play with our feet on the ground," Boudreau said. "We have to make sure we are not on the ground. We have to play out there like the ground is on fire."

Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey believes the linemen will be motivated by last season's performance.

"That's a driving force in my mind for those guys," Mularkey said.

Boudreau and Mularkey don't have a set blocking scheme. They are looking at several styles — from man blocking, zone blocking and gap blocking — before they decide what fits best.

"It's our job as coaches to make sure that we are asking those guys up front to do some things they can do," Mularkey said. "So we're still in the beginning stages of finding out who those five guys are. We're putting them to the test in all different kinds of schemes."

Baker could end up winning the left tackle spot. But don't expect Boudreau to ease Baker into his pro football experience.

"We ain't waiting for nobody," Boudreau said. "Based on what happened to this team last year, with all of the different combinations, and what happened to me in St. Louis, it's like being the vice president, you're just a heart beat away.

"As soon as he can get ready to play, he's going to compete for a job. If he gets the call, he better be ready. This is no red-shirt year. We're not red-shirting him. He's not in college."