A few months ago, Dominic Zvada's right foot was as valuable as almost any extremity in the New York Giants' building. The undrafted rookie kicker seemed to have solved Big Blue's field-goal problem that had stretched back over a year.
Now, Zvada feels like more of a hindrance than anything. The kicker has missed five field goals in the last three games, including a 0-for-2 performance that threatened to derail New York's Week 7 upset of the Houston Texans.
Many head coaches would move on from their kicker after such a discouraging stretch, but not John Harbaugh. He's been nothing but complimentary of his rookie, no matter how much he struggles. When asked about Zvada this week, Harbaugh had only good things to say.
""We believe in who he is. We believe in his talent, his work ethic, and his head. We really think he's made of the right stuff.""John Harbaugh on Dominic Zvada
Harbaugh doesn't seem keen on replacing Zvada. Giants fans can only hope that the head coach is right in his conviction.
John Harbaugh refuses to give up on Giants' Dominic Zvada
If anybody knows what to look for in a kicker, it's Harbaugh. He was a special teams coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles in his early days, and he has coached some of the league's most effective kickers over the last two decades.
So when Harbaugh says that Zvada is "made of the right stuff," it's worth paying attention to. He sought out the young kicker, and he seems to still see the potential that he saw initially.
That said, Zvada shouldn't get a pass for his recent struggles. The Giants would have beaten the Washington Commanders in Week 5 if he hadn't missed three field goals. Instead, they ended with a tie in overtime.
Missed kicks hamstrung Big Blue again in Houston, sending another game to overtime. Had Cam Skattebo and Devin Singletary not run the Giants across the finish line, Zvada might be under even more heat.
Harbaugh has been unwavering in his belief in Zvada, but his leash can only be so long. He needs to start rewarding that trust soon.
Giants' Dominic Zvada needs to bounce back vs. Eagles in Week 9
A Week 9 matchup with the Eagles gives Zvada a perfect bounce-back opportunity. He's had a bye week to reset, and he can now make the most of the back half of the season.
Philadelphia's defense is one of the better units in the NFL and could keep J.J. McCarthy and the Giants from finding the end zone. Especially if Cam Skattebo is out with his hamstring, New York could be limited in its ability to get over the goal line.
Zvada might be called upon for some important field goals in a game that Big Blue has to win.
He can silence his critics with a perfect performance on the road. But if Zvada is anything short of perfect, the calls to replace him will only get louder, and Harbaugh's trust in him will be tested once again.
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