--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to be physical. If you are not…" description: "\"You have to be physical. If you are not, defensive backs will try to pick on you.\" — Calvin Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/calvin-johnson-4086_defensive_you-have-to-be-physical-if-you-are-not-d_1229109.png" --- # You have to be physical. If you are not, defensive backs… ![“You have to be physical. If you are not, defensive backs will try to pick on you.” quote by Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/calvin-johnson-4086_defensive_you-have-to-be-physical-if-you-are-not-d_1229109.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/calvin-johnson-4086_defensive_you-have-to-be-physical-if-you-are-not-d_1229109.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/calvin-johnson-4086_defensive_you-have-to-be-physical-if-you-are-not-d_1229109.png) > “You have to be physical. If you are not, defensive backs will try to pick on you.” [Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical presence deters opponents from targeting you and forces respect on the field. **In simple terms:** Being physical prevents others from picking on you. Key Takeaway Stay strong and assertive. Themes sports confidence defense Mood determined assertive Type motivational advice When to use this quote - football games - training sessions - team meetings Key Concepts Physicality intimidation team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does physicality affect team morale? - When is aggression counterproductive? A Different Perspective If over-reliant on aggression, may cause injuries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defensive backs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defensive-backs/) ## Related quotes > [I pride myself on setting tough picks and going out there and being physical. 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I tried to pattern my game after him because he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-adderley/night-train-lane-was-the-best-defensive-back-to-ever-play-the-game-i/) Herb Adderley > [Obviously, teams are passing a lot more, and there are rules that... allow the offense to be more explosive, so you want to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnamdi-asomugha/obviously-teams-are-passing-a-lot-more-and-there-are-rules-that-allow/) [Nnamdi Asomugha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnamdi-asomugha/) > [Defensive backs are always trying to kill me, so I'm trying to get them first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hines-ward/defensive-backs-are-always-trying-to-kill-me-so-i-m-trying-to-get/) [Hines Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hines-ward/) > [I feel like I know what defensive backs are going to do before they do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-feel-like-i-know-what-defensive-backs-are-going-to-do-before-they/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [Defensive backs are the best players on the field. But when you get an exceptional player like a Deion Sanders or a Darrell Green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/defensive-backs-are-the-best-players-on-the-field-but-when-you-get-an/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [When you let those defensive backs know that you're a physical player, they don't really want to tackle. That's it. That's why you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-elliott/when-you-let-those-defensive-backs-know-that-you-re-a-physical-player/) [Ezekiel Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-elliott/) > [You have to use your mind n the NFL. Every player is smarter. 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I played wide receiver and defensive back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacoby-ellsbury/it-was-fun-having-speed-and-being-able-to-jump-especially-playing/) [Jacoby Ellsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacoby-ellsbury/) > [I like using one QB. If we have two that are relatively equal, then we can't afford to have one on the bench. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-chadwick/i-like-using-one-qb-if-we-have-two-that-are-relatively-equal-then-we/) [Alan Chadwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-chadwick/) > [You want bold? Ask the hundreds of defensive backs I ran over during my career if they think I'm bold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/you-want-bold-ask-the-hundreds-of-defensive-backs-i-ran-over-during/) [Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/) ## More by Calvin Johnson > [My biggest regret is that I wasn't able to help give our fans a championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-johnson/my-biggest-regret-is-that-i-wasn-t-able-to-help-give-our-fans-a/) [Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/) > [I feel fine as long I'm not running around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-johnson/i-feel-fine-as-long-i-m-not-running-around/) [Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/) > [I have always been like this. I take after my father. I'm just chill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-johnson/i-have-always-been-like-this-i-take-after-my-father-i-m-just-chill/) [Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/) > [I got stuff that's going to hurt for the rest of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-johnson/i-got-stuff-that-s-going-to-hurt-for-the-rest-of-my-life/) [Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/) > [It's easy to show off if you are making plays all the time. But it's not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-johnson/it-s-easy-to-show-off-if-you-are-making-plays-all-the-time-but-it-s/) [Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/) > [I've been a Madden guy since I was little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-johnson/i-ve-been-a-madden-guy-since-i-was-little/) [Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/) > [During the season, I dodge the media. 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Its strategic doctrines are defensive, designed to deter invasion long enough for diplomacy to set it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/iran-has-little-capacity-to-deploy-force-its-strategic-doctrines-are/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“To switch effectively from defense to social engagement strategies, the nervous system must do two things: (1) assess risk, and (2) if the environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-w-porges/to-switch-effectively-from-defense-to-social-engagement-strategies/) [Stephen W. Porges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-w-porges/) > [I've never just thought of myself as a defensive-only player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-g-anunoby/i-ve-never-just-thought-of-myself-as-a-defensive-only-player/) [O. G. Anunoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-g-anunoby/) > [The top coaches want wide strikers who cut inside. They want playmaking midfielders who can play between the lines as well as perform their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/the-top-coaches-want-wide-strikers-who-cut-inside-they-want/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [“Defense mechanisms protect us. Fortresses isolate us. And far too often we begin with the former and end up constructing the latter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/defense-mechanisms-protect-us-fortresses-isolate-us-and-far-too-often/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [One of the turning points in the look of the Guardian is when we decided Logan Thackeray would be a Guardian as opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-grubb/one-of-the-turning-points-in-the-look-of-the-guardian-is-when-we/) [Jeff Grubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-grubb/) > [I'm a storyteller... 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