Giants rookie kicker Dominic Zvada shanked another one Thursday night, a 33-yarder in the first quarter that ended up haunting his team in a tough 24-21 loss to the Commanders. That’s a three-point game, folks. Every single kick matters, and when you leave points on the field like that, it just crushes you.
The Kicker Conundrum
Zvada’s missed 33-yarder wasn’t just a fluke. This kid has struggled, plain and simple. He’s missed six field goals in nine games so far this season. That’s a brutal stat line for any kicker, let alone a rookie trying to find his footing in the league. You watch these games and every time the field goal unit trots out, you’re holding your breath, right? Especially when the game is on the line, like that tight contest against the Commanders. A 33-yarder isn’t some Hail Mary bomb, it’s a kick you just have to make.
Harbaugh’s Unwavering Confidence
So, after another gut-wrenching, three-point loss, what does Giants coach John Harbaugh say about his struggling rookie? You’d expect some tough talk, maybe a hint of concern. Nope. Harbaugh came out swinging with total confidence. “Yeah, we’re confident,” he said. He’s not about to “start firing people left and right” just because a guy misses a play, especially a rookie kicker. Harbaugh clearly believes in Zvada’s talent. “I’m confident that he’s gonna become a good kicker,” the coach stated. He’s not going to “panic, you know, halfway through the season.” He believes Zvada is “really good, really talented” and they’re going to “give him an opportunity to do it.”
It’s a bold stance, especially when those missed points are directly impacting game outcomes. Harbaugh is doubling down on his guy, refusing to “knee-jerk it.” But make no mistake, that kind of trust puts an immense spotlight right on Zvada. Harbaugh summed it up himself: “It’s up to him to do it.”
This isn’t some minor detail. When a coach gives that kind of public vote of confidence despite repeated struggles, every single kick from here on out is under a microscope. Zvada’s got the talent, Harbaugh says. Now, the rest of the season is on the line for the rookie to prove that confidence isn’t misplaced.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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