The spotlight has found Malaki Starks this week, whether he wanted it or not. The Baltimore Ravenssafety has been one of the most discussed players after Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints, with fans and analysts dissecting several defensive breakdowns in the fourth quarter.
While criticism has come from outside the building, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver made it clear Thursday that he has no interest in blaming one player for Baltimore's struggles. He spoke with the mediaand admirably defended his second-year safety.
Instead, Weaver's focus remains on coaching, development, and understanding that defensive failures are rarely the result of a single player's actions. When asked how he helps Starks navigate a difficult week, Weaver pointed
toward consistency rather than drastic changes.
"[We] just [have to] keep getting better. The process is the same. I think it is funny that sometimes people think, 'Oh, we lost a game, we have to do more, we have to do this.' I am like, well, what were you doing last week, right?"
The Ravens aren't changing their approach because of one loss, and Weaver isn't changing his approach because of one difficult performance. He emphasized that Baltimore's responsibility is to continue coaching Starks and helping him improve.
"You are still going to coach Malaki Starks up, try to find ways to correct him, see what you can give him pre-snap to get him ahead of that play."
The comments came after Weaver was asked about the Chris Olave touchdown that became one of the defining plays of Sunday's game. According to Baltimore's defensive coordinator, the Saints capitalized on a communication issue.
"Hats off to them, right? They made a good play call, kind of caught us in a combo coverage. Like we always talk about — communication and connection — we were off on that particular play, and they were able to catch us."
That explanation helps explain why Weaver is reluctant to blame one player. In fact, he openly pushed back against that line of thinking.
"I hate that any one guy gets singled out on any particular play, because there are so many plays that allowed them to get to that particular spot that could have gotten us off the field."
Weaver also suggested that Baltimore's fourth-quarter struggles were about more than a single coverage bust. He noted that the defense failed on several key third downs late in the game, moments he described as potentially demoralizing. Rather than allowing those situations to snowball, Weaver wants the Ravens to respond with confidence and trust in their preparation.
The message was clear: learn from the mistakes, correct them, and move forward. That approach applies to Starks as much as anyone else on Baltimore's defense. The Ravens know the Dallas Cowboys will present another major challenge in Brazil on Sunday. If Baltimore is going to bounce back, it will need contributions from every level of the defense, including Starks.
Based on Weaver's comments, the organization remains focused on helping the young safety grow rather than dwelling on one difficult afternoon against the New Orleans Saints. The Ravens are clearly treating Sunday's mistakes as lessons rather than lasting scars. The organization still believes in Starks, and Sunday's matchup will give him an immediate chance to show the growth Weaver spent much of Thursday's discussion detailing.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Anthony Weaver defends Malaki Starks after recent criticism
