![\"Norman-Lott](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_3380,h_1901,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/arrowhead_report\/01k11h97dyeqca6yakvv.jpg\")
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Kansas City Chiefs rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott didn\u2019t mince words on Friday afternoon when asked what it\u2019s like to face off against one of the league\u2019s premier interior linemen in Creed Humphrey.<\/p>\n
\u201cHumphrey is a brick wall,\u201d said Norman-Lott, matter-of-factly. \u201cNo, no, I\u2019m not laughing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Later in the interview, he returned to the topic of Humphrey and expanded on why he feels the way he does about the Chiefs\u2019 center.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll tell you this,\u201d started Norman-Lott. \u201cWe had a rep and he was like running the outside zone play. I was trying to move with him, and I was like, \u2018Damn,\u2019 like mid rep. I\u2019m like, \u2018Damn, this dude \u2014 he\u2019s a brick wall.\u2019 He\u2019s solid and he\u2019s a great athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just Humphrey giving the rookie everything he can handle. Norman-Lott has also faced off against Chiefs guard Trey Smith in practice. Norman-Lott said the benefit of going up against such great players is \u201castronomical.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are some of the best guys in this league, so it\u2019s helped me take my level to the next step.\u201d<\/p>\n
When he was asked what he\u2019s focusing on in practice to help him compete with players of the caliber of Smith and Humphrey, Norman-Lott gave a practical and thoughtful answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably just working my second move in pass rush and staying low in the run game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Developing a counter move when the first one is stopped will go a long way toward giving opposing linemen a headache, especially when paired with his quick first step off the snap. As for staying low in the run game, that\u2019s a great sign. Pad level dictates leverage and the point of contact in the trenches \u2014 and the low man usually wins.<\/p>\n
One veteran who has been helping Norman-Lott develop while also holding him to a high standard is his running mate on the interior defensive line, Chris Jones.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a great leader. He\u2019s hard on the rookies, and he\u2019s unforgivable with us,\u201d said Norman-Lott, referring to Jones. \u201cBut that\u2019s only going to make us grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not every rookie gets looks with the first-team defense, especially on a team like the Chiefs with veteran starters returning at every spot on the defensive line. Norman-Lott said it was an honor that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo allowed him to play some reps alongside the rest of the first-team defense.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just got to use them the right way,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m working on not messing up and just playing hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
When it comes to avoiding mistakes, Norman-Lott said he feels like a freshman in college again \u2014 and that his teammates bring a different level of urgency and intensity compared to the NCAA.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a job now. These guys\u2019 jobs, my job is all on the line, so it\u2019s a different tempo and intensity with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because of this, Norman-Lott said he\u2019s focused on making the most of camp. If he\u2019s not in meetings or on the field, you will find him either sleeping or studying.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no more time for nothing else.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It\u2019s camp No. 1 for the former Tennessee Volunteer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":83195,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n