Brian Allen of the Rams and Ted Karras of the Patriots are young interior linemen with solid futures. Right now they are on the sidelines on alert. Photos by Al Thompson

ATLANTA: At the Super Bowl everything is under a microscope. Everything in and around the game is picked apart and scrutinized.

So many of these playoff games and championships have turned on one play. Look at the New England Patriots dramatic finish in Super Bowl XLIX when Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson on the goal line to clinch the championship.

This year, the Philadelphia Eagles had the New Orleans Saints on the ropes, driving deep into Saints territory down six, with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, when normally sure-handed wide receiver Alshon Jeffery let an easy catch slip through his hands and right into a defender’s arms.

A week later the Saints were victim to one of the worst non-calls in NFL playoff history when referees missed Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman interfering with Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis in the last minutes of the game on the Rams’ 5-yard line. New Orleans lost in overtime, allowing the Rams their first Super Bowl appearance since 2002.

With these kinds of circumstances playing out more and more every year, how does a bench player such as quarterback and offensive linemen, positions in football not normally platooned.

There are two young players in that situation going into Super Bowl LVIII, one on the Rams and the other in the wings for the New England Patriots.

Guard/center Ted Karras is finishing up his third season with the Patriots. This will be his third consecutive Super Bowl, winning one. Karras was signed by New England to the 53-man roster from the practice squad on Sept. 7, 2017. The former Illinois standout originally drafted by New England in the sixth round (221st overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.

In his three years playing for the Pats he has played in 45 games with five starts. Karras was asked how has he been able to stay focused when so much is on the line and he could be in a pressure situation on any play. So far, so good.

“I’m very grateful to have this role,” Karras said during Thursday’s media session. “It’s a pretty unique role, as far as my career being a sixth guy coming off the bench. I love this O-line, love being part of it. We’ve been blessed with great continuity. I’m just ready to go, I’m a football player. I’m paid to play football and
I take my job seriously. When it’s my turn to play, it’s time to go.”

Ted Karras became the seventh member of his family to play football in the Big Ten, including his great-uncle, the late Alex Karras. Alex won the Outland Trophy as a defensive tackle at Iowa and was named to the Pro Bowl four times in the NFL with the Detroit Lions before going into acting.

The younger Karras talked about the Patriots offensive line room and how everyone works together to maintain and equal amount of intensity whether you are a starter or on the sidelines, playing special teams.

“It’s a group effort, absolutely,” Karras said. “It’s what you’re expected to do as a member of this team. There are things you’ve go to do, it’s your job. Whether you play one play or 95, you’ve got to get it done. That’s a big reason this organization has had so much success…that belief that we just have to get it done.”

The 25-year-old talked about that fact that almost all the offensive linemen on the roster have never played for any team by the Patriots.

“We’ve had a great group that you can even include Nate Solder from the previous two years,” Karras said, referring to Solder who signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Giants after the Pats loss to the Eagles. “It’s been an incredible opportunity to be a part of it as a guy who comes in does what I need to do.”

Karras is entering the final year if his rookie contract. Has he thought about moving on? He’s got a Super Bowl ring, three AFC Championship rings and may pick up his second Super Bowl if the Patriots knock off the Rams.

Karras played his answer like Saquon Barkley played dodge ball during Pro Bowl week in Orlando. He made himself into football’s version of Neo from “The Matrix”… dodging every bullet fired huis way.

“The great thing about football is that all you can do it worry about your next game, and your next practice,” Karras floated out. “It’s almost liberating if you think it that way. I’ve got my job through tomorrow and through Sunday. That’s all I’m focused on.”

Brian Allen is finishing up his rookie season as the backup center for the Rams. He has played in 13 games plus both playoff games with no starts.

The 6-foot-2, 303 pounder out of Michigan State was picked by the Rams in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

He backs up veteran center John Sullivan. Allen was asked what it’s like backing up a respected veteran and how he is able to stay ready. If he comes in he will touch the ball on every play. In the Super Bowl, that is tremendous pressure to be focused.

“I know every single play that’s going on,” Allen said. “I’m making the same calls he is in my head on the sideline. I just as engaged as if I was out there. I’m getting in the game as much as I can if something were to happen. If I step in I will know what’s going on.”

Has he ever offered advise to his 33-year old mentor?

“Yeah but he’s so smart that that rarely every happens,” Allen said. “There’s been one instance this year where I brought something up that I was right on. He’s on the screws, he’s very good at his job. He’s one of the smartest centers in the NFL. I was surprised I got that one (right).”

When Allen wads asked how he stays focused on the sideline, he poked a little fun at Sullivan.

“I just approach every week like I’m the starter,” Allen said. “We have a great center in John Sullivan. He’s getting up there in age, so you never know when he’s going down…. knock on wood. You have to approach every week like you’re the starter and be ready to go in, and not let there be a drop off. That’s my goal every week. You want to know the game plan as well as him, as well as I can. If I’m focused like that every week, there won’t be an issue if something were to happen.”

Allen was asked if all the offensive linemen encourage each other to stay locked in mentally?

“I don’t think anyone has to be encouraged,” Allen said. “Especially on our team and the level we played at this year. We have a lot of great guys, a lot of great players. Every week we come in and have the desire to win and be dominant. It’s never a lack of focus or anything like that. It’s really a great room to be part of as far as that goes. The guys push you, make you better. They’re so smart, the conversations we have just make everybody better.”

Allen was asked how, after being a major star at Michigan State, how he remains confident in himself as a player while standing on the sideline,

“If I keep doing what I’m supposed to and keep trying to get better each week, approaching those weeks, I’ll be ready to go. I feel comfortable now that if I had to start Sunday, I’d be perfectly fine.”

The 23-year-old said he is aware that with all the money invested in players today everything players do is evaluated. Player personnel will look at how a player practices, hustles between drills, helps teammates and follows their coach’s direction.

Teams may even watch how a player conducts himself while walking around their team facility,

“Football is an interesting game,” Allen said. “There’s not a lot of room to hide or try to slip through the cracks. If you don’t know what’s going on, you’re going to get exposed and embarrassed. It’s not hard to see who is engaged and who knows what’s going on and who doesn’t.” *

Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii