By all means defend without the ball, but perhaps on occasion be constructive when you have it.

We can understand that the police should have the means to defend themselves against armed felons.

This is your only warning; we have the means to defend ourselves.

He called on his followers to use all available means to defend what was left of their country.

The Muslims should have the means to defend themselves but not enough to reopen the war.

And we have the means to defend ourselves against such rabble.

At least against Brook she had the means to defend her son.

His cover story had even demanded that the ship have the means to defend itself.

They no longer had any means to defend themselves.

She was even glad that he had the means to defend his freedom.