| INDIANAPOLIS — Last winter, Larry Tripplett made the difficult
decision to stay at Washington for his senior season while teammates like S Hakim Akbar
(Patriots) chose differently. Tripplett answered questions about whether he regrets
staying at Washington, how much flak he caught from other players about his name being
misspelled on his Combine jersey and the criticism that he is undersized to play defensive
tackle in the NFL. Q: How important was it to come back for your senior year? In
hindsight, do you think you made the right decision?
A: Yeah, I think I made the right decision because I got another year, another
opportunity to play football and learn a lot more, spend more time with my coaches, pick
their brains a little bit, and those things will help me out in my NFL career.
Q: As a player, do you think you improved?
A: Yeah. Oh yeah. My knowledge of the game, I feel like I’m a lot smarter now than
I was last year.
Q: It seemed like it was tougher on you this season because of all the attention and
double-teams you drew. Was that the case?
A: Yeah, it happened at the end of my junior year, and I just tried to play through it.
I kind of expected it a little bit, but not as much as what I did get my senior year. But
it’s part of the game, man.
Q: How different was it between being a marked man this season and less known as a
junior?
A: It’s hard. It’s tough. When you look, especially on a young defensive line
like we had, it’s very tough because a lot of times, teams are scheming for you, so
it makes it hard to make plays.
Q: Is it any harder for you because the Huskies did not win the Pac-10 championship?
A: It wasn’t less fun. I think we had a team that was young, and it’s going
to help them out a lot. Because keep in mind, we were picked to finish like fifth in the
Pac-10, and we did finish second. We came one game short of finishing tied with Oregon, so
it didn’t make it less fun. It was an exciting run for us.
Q: Did they get your name misspelled on your jersey here?
A: Isn’t that ridiculous. It’s ridiculous, man. I told the lady about it, but
there was nothing they could do. I’m only here for a couple of days.
Q: No respect, huh?
A: I know, man. Let me tell you. You just don’t know how mad I was (laughs).
… And the thing was, it don’t even look right. T-R-O … Come on. That’s
not right. I mean, any one with common sense would see that isn’t right and changed
it. There’s no one in America with the name "Tropplett." But I just use it
as motivation. I was mad. Every time somebody would say something to me, "Hey,
Tropplett," I was like, "What? OK." It was a clerical error. They said they
are going to send me another shirt. At least they got it right on my white shirt.
Q: You are going to take it home, though, and just kind of save it as a memento,
right?
A: Believe me, I’m not wearing this no more. They may find it at the airport
somewhere, behind the dumpsters.
Q: Have the players been giving you a hard time about it?
A: Yeah, all of them. But that’s all right. I still had a good time anyway, being
‘Tropplett."
Q: Do you feel like an object here, with them poking and pulling at you?
A: Ah, man, yeah. Yesterday was rough. I have never been poked and pulled and yanked,
and you know, "What’s wrong with this? How did you do this?" It’s
crazy, but you got to go through it to play football.
Q: Could Tropplett give us any insights about Tripplett?
A: All right now, you’re about to make me mad now (laughter).
Q: What are you going to bring to an NFL team the first year?
A: I have a hunger that I have never had in my life before. As I’m getting closer
and closer to this process, playing at the next level, I’m getting hungrier. I really
want to win a Super Bowl ring. You should see all the rings that were going around,
watching the rings that everyone has. It’s my desire. I’m going to do whatever
it takes to win.
Q: What do you think about the criticism that you are undersized for a defensive
lineman?
A: You know what, somebody told me, it’s not the size of the person, it’s the
heart and desire they have to succeed. And I have that, so they can say whatever they want
about my height, man, but I’m going to give it everything I have out there.
Q: What height were you officially measured in at?
A: 6107, whatever that means (it’s 6-foot-1 7/8), 305 pounds.
Q: Is that an ideal weight for you?
A: Oh yeah, I feel real good at this weight. I played right around 300 this year.
Q: What do you think are your biggest strengths?
A: Quickness. I’m good against the run. I need to work on my pass rush a lot more,
but I’m ready to play.
Q: Is there any team you would like to go to?
A: I’m trying to keep playing, man. I met with a lot of teams and a lot of good
defensive line coaches. I want to play for all of them, but I can only play for one of
them.
Q: UCLA RB DeShaun Foster had one of his best games against Washington …
A: And believe me, he told me that every day we were training. Even during the game
— of course, I was mad because he was getting so many yards — but he’s
always been a cool guy. I even liked him then. He’s just a good running back, one of
the best in the country. When we were down there training, yeah, he made jokes, but I also
beat him when he came up to Husky Stadium. We beat them then, so we just go back and
forth. It’s fun.
Q: Are you familiar with the draft last year, with how many defensive tackles were
selected in the first round?
A: I know it was a lot.
Q: There were six. Why has the emphasis moved from the edge rusher 4-5 years ago to
being inside. How has the game evolved to where the defensive tackle is such an important
position?
A: Because it’s hard to find a defensive tackle. A defensive tackle has to be able
to run like a linebacker, be as big as an offensive lineman, and it’s hard to find a
person who can do that. Whenever you get one, you better grab them. Everything starts from
the line. On offense, it starts from the offensive line. On defense, it starts on the
defensive line. Whoever controls that line of scrimmage is going to win the football game,
and you got to have big guys up front so your linebackers can flow to the ball, so your
corners won’t have to cover wide receivers as long. Defensive lineman — our
position is important.
Q: Do you think there will be six defensive tackles drafted again this year?
A: Let’s hope so (laughter). We have some good ones.
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