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ATLANTA -- Continuing to beef up their undersized offensive line, the Atlanta Falcons signed unrestricted free-agent tackle Leander Jordan, who played for the San Diego Chargers the past three seasons, on Tuesday night. The seven-year pro is the second veteran offensive lineman to sign with Atlanta, where first-year coach Bobby Petrino has mandated that the unit add much-needed size this offseason. He joins guard Toniu Fonoti, who joined the team earlier this spring. The Falcons also added standout fullback Ovie Mughelli, a bone-jarring lead blocker who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, as Petrino strives for more power in the running game. Jordan, 29, is a 6-foot-4, 320-pound tackle whose resume includes 37 appearances and 14 career starts. Nine of those starts came with the Chargers in 2005, as he split time at both the left and right tackle positions. He is best suited for right tackle, where he can use his bulk and power on the strong side. With the Falcons, he will vie for a backup role, possibly at both tackle spots, behind starters Wayne Gandy and Todd Weiner. The Falcons, who used a zone-blocking scheme featuring quick but small linemen the past three years, are revamping the unit and the design under Petrino. The Falcons will rely more on a man-blocking scheme in 2007, and the staff has stressed the need for bigger bodies to implement it. Jordan entered the league as a third-round choice of Carolina in the 2000 draft. He signed with Jacksonville in 2002 and then, after two seasons with the Jaguars, moved to San Diego, where he enjoyed his greatest success. The former Indiana (Pa.) University standout will be with the Falcons when they begin their first mandatory minicamp under Petrino on Friday morning. Details of his contract were not immediately available. Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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