---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Big plays are such a huge factor in the…"
description: "\"Big plays are such a huge factor in the outcome of games. It is so difficult to go the distance on a defense.\" — Mike McCarthy"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/mike-mccarthy-23979_big_big-plays-are-such-a-huge-factor-in-the_2608594.jpg"
---

#  Big plays are such a huge factor in the outcome of games…

![“Big plays are such a huge factor in the outcome of games. It is so difficult to go the distance on a defense.” quote by Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/mike-mccarthy-23979_big_big-plays-are-such-a-huge-factor-in-the_2608594.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/mike-mccarthy-23979_big_big-plays-are-such-a-huge-factor-in-the_2608594.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/mike-mccarthy-23979_big_big-plays-are-such-a-huge-factor-in-the_2608594.jpg)

> “Big plays are such a huge factor in the outcome of games. It is so difficult to go the distance on a defense.”

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Big plays heavily influence game outcomes, while sustaining a defense over distance is challenging.

**In simple terms:** Big plays affect outcomes; defense endurance is hard.

Key Takeaway

Balance offense and defense.

Themes

strategy game theory endurance

Mood

analytical strategic

Type

sports tactical

When to use this quote

- sports coaching
- team planning
- performance analysis

Key Concepts

offensive tactics defensive stamina

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you improve defensive stamina?
- What makes a big play effective?

A Different Perspective

May ignore individual skill.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Big Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-plays-386763/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance/) [Distance Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance-defense-2007328/) [Factor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/factor/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Games Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games-difficult-416491/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [Huge Factor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge-factor-2007329/) [Outcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outcome/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/)

## Related quotes

> [Having a family has made a huge difference in the roles I take, so doing a show in L.A. is a huge factor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-walger/having-a-family-has-made-a-huge-difference-in-the-roles-i-take-so/)

[Sonya Walger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-walger/)

> [If I wanted to be a professional baseball player at some point, I knew I would have to do the jump ASAP because unfortunately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-alvarez/if-i-wanted-to-be-a-professional-baseball-player-at-some-point-i-knew/)

[Eddy Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-alvarez/)

> [I've been through seasons where I've not played a lot of games, and its been difficult due to injuries and stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-welbeck/i-ve-been-through-seasons-where-i-ve-not-played-a-lot-of-games-and/)

[Danny Welbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-welbeck/)

> [I played mostly games like Asteroids and Pac-Man. Today, when I go into an arcade, the games are much more difficult and complex. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-chastain/i-played-mostly-games-like-asteroids-and-pac-man-today-when-i-go-into/)

[Brandi Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-chastain/)

> [I don't want to lose. Losing games is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breanna-stewart/i-don-t-want-to-lose-losing-games-is-difficult/)

[Breanna Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breanna-stewart/)

> [All Champions League games are difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimiliano-allegri/all-champions-league-games-are-difficult/)

[Massimiliano Allegri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimiliano-allegri/)

> [If you don't win games, it's difficult to enjoy and see the fun in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/if-you-don-t-win-games-it-s-difficult-to-enjoy-and-see-the-fun-in/)

[Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/)

> [It's always difficult to play against Juve. The games against have been the most difficult in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-mandzukic/it-s-always-difficult-to-play-against-juve-the-games-against-have/)

[Mario Mandzukic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-mandzukic/)

> [When you do not play in important games, then it is a difficult situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/when-you-do-not-play-in-important-games-then-it-is-a-difficult/)

[Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/)

> [There are big lines between those who play video games and those who do not. For those who don't, video games are irrelevant. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigeru-miyamoto/there-are-big-lines-between-those-who-play-video-games-and-those-who/)

[Shigeru Miyamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigeru-miyamoto/)

> [Being patient ... and not becoming too stressed out over the big plays, those are the things to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-polamalu/being-patient-and-not-becoming-too-stressed-out-over-the-big-plays/)

[Troy Polamalu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-polamalu/)

> [My teammates have trust in me to make big plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-wood/my-teammates-have-trust-in-me-to-make-big-plays/)

[Christian Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-wood/)

> [The big plays will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mccaffrey/the-big-plays-will-come/)

[Christian McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mccaffrey/)

> [I expect to make big plays. And when I don't, I'm upset about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-brees/i-expect-to-make-big-plays-and-when-i-don-t-i-m-upset-about-it/)

[Drew Brees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-brees/)

> [Big plays come when they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minkah-fitzpatrick/big-plays-come-when-they-come/)

[Minkah Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minkah-fitzpatrick/)

## More by Mike McCarthy

> [You play a team for the second time, you definitely have some familiarity. I think it's beneficial for your players that they have some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/you-play-a-team-for-the-second-time-you-definitely-have-some/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [I'm a big believer in regularity. My father taught me that. Get up early, get your work done, and that's, what, your highest level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/i-m-a-big-believer-in-regularity-my-father-taught-me-that-get-up/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [The domestic violence policy has been given to our players. My personal view is there's no place in our society for it. I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/the-domestic-violence-policy-has-been-given-to-our-players-my/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [I went away to college, and when I came back and was coaching at Pitt, if they would've offered me a 25-year contract to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/i-went-away-to-college-and-when-i-came-back-and-was-coaching-at-pitt/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [Every week, there's a different twist and turn you're not going to see coming, and how you handle that is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/every-week-there-s-a-different-twist-and-turn-you-re-not-going-to-see/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [Really, I learned a long time ago that in the National Football League, paper doesn't mean anything. Football teams are created on the football…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/really-i-learned-a-long-time-ago-that-in-the-national-football-league/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [The performance of your position coaches is obviously more than just the actual statistics of how their players perform. There's insight from relationships you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/the-performance-of-your-position-coaches-is-obviously-more-than-just/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [The reality is, if you're going to have a defeat on the road, Week 1 is probably the best time to have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/the-reality-is-if-you-re-going-to-have-a-defeat-on-the-road-week-1-is/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [When you're losing, there's that survival instinct. But when you're handling success, people think it's easier, and they think losing's harder. But handling success,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/when-you-re-losing-there-s-that-survival-instinct-but-when-you-re/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [Preseason football is hard to evaluate. It's never going to be clean for the quarterbacks. You have to overcome the ugly plays and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/preseason-football-is-hard-to-evaluate-it-s-never-going-to-be-clean/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [I worked at a place that followed a system where the quarterback was taught to take the sack rather than force the throw. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/i-worked-at-a-place-that-followed-a-system-where-the-quarterback-was/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [I hate that 'I got it' stuff. That drives me nuts. It's that natural instinct that everything's OK because you're winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/i-hate-that-i-got-it-stuff-that-drives-me-nuts-it-s-that-natural/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [Throwaways are OK. When a quarterback throws the ball away in our system, that's a plus. That's a plus decision. That's the way I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/throwaways-are-ok-when-a-quarterback-throws-the-ball-away-in-our/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [You build a program; culture is what makes it go. You have to invest in that culture every single day, and that's my big-picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/you-build-a-program-culture-is-what-makes-it-go-you-have-to-invest-in/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

> [The team that gets to play to their plan is usually the team that has the most success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/the-team-that-gets-to-play-to-their-plan-is-usually-the-team-that-has/)

[Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

[Explore all 25 Mike McCarthy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/)

## More Big quotes

> [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/)

[Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/)

> [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/)

[Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/)

> [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/)

[Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/)

> [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/)

[Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/)

> [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/)

[Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/)

> [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/)

[Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/)

> [I always want to do a big finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-always-want-to-do-a-big-finale/)

[Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/)

> [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/)

[Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/)

> [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/)

[Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/)

> [I think a big part of success in football is mental, not physical. How you are inside your head matters more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/i-think-a-big-part-of-success-in-football-is-mental-not-physical-how/)

[Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/)

> [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/)

[Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/)

> [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/)

[Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/)

> [What I know about Ali Krieger is no moment is ever going to be too big for her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/what-i-know-about-ali-krieger-is-no-moment-is-ever-going-to-be-too/)

[Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/)

[Browse all 12,477 Big quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Big plays are such a huge factor in the outcome of games. It is so difficult to go the distance on a defense.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mike McCarthy"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/big-plays-are-such-a-huge-factor-in-the-outcome-of-games-it-is-so/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Big"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/big-plays-are-such-a-huge-factor-in-the-outcome-of-games-it-is-so/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/mike-mccarthy-23979_big_big-plays-are-such-a-huge-factor-in-the_2608594.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/mike-mccarthy-23979_big_big-plays-are-such-a-huge-factor-in-the_2608594.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/mike-mccarthy-23979_big_big-plays-are-such-a-huge-factor-in-the_2608594.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Big plays are such a huge factor in the outcome of games. It is so difficult to go the distance on a defense.” — Mike McCarthy",
                "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": "Mike McCarthy",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Big plays are such a huge...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/big-plays-are-such-a-huge-factor-in-the-outcome-of-games-it-is-so/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/big-plays-are-such-a-huge-factor-in-the-outcome-of-games-it-is-so/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
