--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm just trying to take what the defense…" description: "\"I'm just trying to take what the defense gives me.\" — Eli Manning" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/eli-manning-8497_defense_i-m-just-trying-to-take-what-the-defense_2669450.jpg" --- # I'm just trying to take what the defense gives me. ![“I'm just trying to take what the defense gives me.” quote by Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/eli-manning-8497_defense_i-m-just-trying-to-take-what-the-defense_2669450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/eli-manning-8497_defense_i-m-just-trying-to-take-what-the-defense_2669450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/eli-manning-8497_defense_i-m-just-trying-to-take-what-the-defense_2669450.jpg) > “I'm just trying to take what the defense gives me.” [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He focuses on reacting to the defense's actions rather than planning ahead. **In simple terms:** He takes what the defense gives. Key Takeaway Adapt to circumstances. Themes strategy reactivity football tactics mindset Mood analytical pragmatic Type sports strategic When to use this quote - game planning - live play - coaching Key Concepts situational awareness decision making Questions to Reflect On - When should you dictate the play? - How do you balance reaction and planning? A Different Perspective Reactive play may limit proactive opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Defense Gives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense-gives-1430011/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Give me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give-me/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Just Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-trying/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-defense-1712778/) ## Related quotes > [“We live in an era where everyone is terrified of being caught trying. So, the defense mechanism is to pretend you never gave a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lokesh-tuli/we-live-in-an-era-where-everyone-is-terrified-of-being-caught-trying/) [Lokesh Tuli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lokesh-tuli/) > [The best players in this game are consistent, year in and year out. That's what I'm trying to do on defense. It's harder to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-arenado/the-best-players-in-this-game-are-consistent-year-in-and-year-out/) [Nolan Arenado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-arenado/) > [I guess you kind of take what the defense gives you. You don't always want to just force it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jrue-holiday/i-guess-you-kind-of-take-what-the-defense-gives-you-you-don-t-always/) [Jrue Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jrue-holiday/) > [Sometimes, you just have to take what the defense gives you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-jackson/sometimes-you-just-have-to-take-what-the-defense-gives-you/) [Lamar Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-jackson/) > [I take what the defense gives me, and I roll with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-anthony-towns/i-take-what-the-defense-gives-me-and-i-roll-with-it/) [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-anthony-towns/) > [Defense gives rise to fears of losing independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/defense-gives-rise-to-fears-of-losing-independence/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [I always say take what the defense gives. So, if they give you that, the deeper throw, then take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-jones/i-always-say-take-what-the-defense-gives-so-if-they-give-you-that-the/) [Mac Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-jones/) > [I need to be more of a take-what-the-defense-gives-me player and not force the issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-green/i-need-to-be-more-of-a-take-what-the-defense-gives-me-player-and-not/) [Gerald Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-green/) > [You've got to take what the defense gives you. When you get your moment, you've got to take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-plum/you-ve-got-to-take-what-the-defense-gives-you-when-you-get-your/) [Kelsey Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-plum/) > [Whatever the defense gives us, we're going to take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-jones/whatever-the-defense-gives-us-we-re-going-to-take-it/) [Julio Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-jones/) > [You're a pick-and-pop guy sometimes. You can get rolling with what the defense gives you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/you-re-a-pick-and-pop-guy-sometimes-you-can-get-rolling-with-what-the/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I'll continue to take what the defense gives me. That's the way that I've always played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-horford/i-ll-continue-to-take-what-the-defense-gives-me-that-s-the-way-that-i/) [Al Horford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-horford/) > [I feel like I've matured in that area too, taking what the defense gives you, not trying to make too much. If it's two,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saquon-barkley/i-feel-like-i-ve-matured-in-that-area-too-taking-what-the-defense/) [Saquon Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saquon-barkley/) > [It's a conscious effort for me to be aggressive and take what the defense gives you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmer-fredette/it-s-a-conscious-effort-for-me-to-be-aggressive-and-take-what-the/) [Jimmer Fredette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmer-fredette/) > [I'm just trying to take advantage of whatever the defense is giving me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bojan-bogdanovic/i-m-just-trying-to-take-advantage-of-whatever-the-defense-is-giving-me/) [Bojan Bogdanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bojan-bogdanovic/) ## More by Eli Manning > [I'm not worried about where I rank between other QBs in the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-m-not-worried-about-where-i-rank-between-other-qbs-in-the-league/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [We just have to go after our game plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/we-just-have-to-go-after-our-game-plan/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I worried coming in for my freshman year what my teammates would think of me. I was a little scared they would think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-worried-coming-in-for-my-freshman-year-what-my-teammates-would/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I don't play basketball for the money. I don't play it for the crowd. When I didn't have a friend, when I was lonely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-don-t-play-basketball-for-the-money-i-don-t-play-it-for-the-crowd/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Strike one is a big, big pitch-you can do a lot after you get strike one, no matter how you get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/strike-one-is-a-big-big-pitch-you-can-do-a-lot-after-you-get-strike/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I go through life with a smile because I know things can be worse than they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-go-through-life-with-a-smile-because-i-know-things-can-be-worse/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [The quarterback, you can play with a lot of big injuries. You get a little injury like an index finger or a thumb that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/the-quarterback-you-can-play-with-a-lot-of-big-injuries-you-get-a/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [You can't join a team and give up on it because you lose a few games or things aren't going well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/you-can-t-join-a-team-and-give-up-on-it-because-you-lose-a-few-games/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I never try to be something I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-never-try-to-be-something-i-m-not/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I try to stay level-headed and it's always the way I've been. Sometimes your personality out in the real world, you want to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-try-to-stay-level-headed-and-it-s-always-the-way-i-ve-been/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I've always been a player and a person who wanted to be the best at whatever he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-ve-always-been-a-player-and-a-person-who-wanted-to-be-the-best-at/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Money isn't always going to make it happen. It's important to be around people that have the right kind of attitude, being happy about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/money-isn-t-always-going-to-make-it-happen-it-s-important-to-be/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/with-the-game-on-the-line-i-want-the-ball-in-my-hands/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I'm old school. I'm locked into my own little circle. If you cross the line, you're going to get bit. They'll always know where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-m-old-school-i-m-locked-into-my-own-little-circle-if-you-cross-the/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Mom runs the family. Shes the kind of person who, without her, wed be lost. She supports us. I got real close to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/mom-runs-the-family-shes-the-kind-of-person-who-without-her-wed-be/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) [Explore all 80 Eli Manning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) ## More Defense quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [My last defense / Is the present tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/my-last-defense-is-the-present-tense/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) [Tasha Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-marie/) > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. It's an execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-shoot-someone-who-is-fleeing-it-s-not-self-defense-it-s-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) [Browse all 2,426 Defense quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm just trying to take what the defense gives me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eli Manning" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-m-just-trying-to-take-what-the-defense-gives-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defense" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-m-just-trying-to-take-what-the-defense-gives-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/eli-manning-8497_defense_i-m-just-trying-to-take-what-the-defense_2669450.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/eli-manning-8497_defense_i-m-just-trying-to-take-what-the-defense_2669450.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/eli-manning-8497_defense_i-m-just-trying-to-take-what-the-defense_2669450.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm just trying to take what the defense gives me.” — Eli Manning", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eli Manning", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm just trying to take what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-m-just-trying-to-take-what-the-defense-gives-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-m-just-trying-to-take-what-the-defense-gives-me/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```