STEELERS Todd Fordham pushes Ross to sideline

His success against Julius Peppers was a factor.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Todd Fordham has beaten out projected starter Oliver Ross and will be the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting right tackle Sunday against Baltimore.
Fordham and Ross spent most of training camp competing for the job, which Fordham secured by playing well in his matchup last Friday against Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers.
With the offensive line playing much better than it did in its previous three preseason games, the Steelers opened a 14-0 lead with the starters for both teams on the field. Carolina later came back to win 21-14.
Ross was held out of the game with a sprained ankle.
"The one thing Todd has done since he came here is, he's been very consistent, very solid, and he certainly played very, very well the other night," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said Tuesday. "I think Todd has earned the opportunity. I feel comfortable with having Oliver there as an experienced guy to back him up or to go to the left side."
Marvel goes left
Marvel Smith started at right tackle last season, but has switched to left tackle to replace Wayne Gandy, who signed with New Orleans as an unrestricted free agent. Ross was Smith's backup at right tackle last season.
The Cleveland Browns tried to sign the 6-foot-5, 309-pound Ross as a restricted free agent following the 2001 season. But the Steelers matched the $3.95 million, three-year offer with the idea that Ross would start as early as this season.
"This is how we're starting, but that's not to say we won't make a change if we feel it's necessary somewhere down the road," Cowher said.
Fordham started 12 games for Jacksonville after Tony Boselli was hurt in 2001 and started nine games last season. An unrestricted free agent, he signed a $2.4 million, three-year contract with Pittsburgh in March.
The 6-5, 315-pound Fordham has started 30 NFL games since making Jacksonville's roster as an undrafted free agent from Florida State in 1997. He signed with Denver in 2001, but returned to the Jaguars that season after being waived by the Broncos.