Dominic Zvada isn’t going anywhere, at least for now.
asserted
Zvada → go → ?
Despite the rookie kicker missing a pair of field goals in Sunday’s 27-21 overtime win in Houston — including a 44-yarder just before halftime — head coach John Harbaugh said Monday the Giants were sticking with Zvada.
Asked if there were any plans to bring in competition for the strong-legged rookie, Harbaugh said, “We’re not gonna be doing that right now, no.”
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tRY IT NOWThat doesn’t mean those plans won’t change if he continues to struggle.
asserted
he → miss → IT
Zvada also missed a 56-yarder earlier in the game, and the Giants opted not to go for a 55-yard attempt in the second half.
asserted
Giants → miss → half
Making matters worse for the undrafted Zvada, he was unable to force a return on his overtime kickoff, instead giving the Texans a touchback, just as he did with the Saints a week earlier.
asserted
he → make → Saints
Zvada did convert all three extra-point attempts in Sunday’s win, but after starting his career 9-for-9 on field goal attempts, he’s just 4-for-9 since.
asserted
he → convert → attempts
Harbaugh defended Zvada following the victory in Houston, saying, “I’m not really worried about Zvada.
asserted
I → defend → Zvada
He just has to do it.
asserted
He → have → it
But I’m totally confident he will because I know how good he is and know what a good head he has.
asserted
he → ’m → head
The Giants had a turnstile at the position a year ago, as they were forced to use five different kickers — including punter Jamie Gillan.
asserted
they → have → Gillan
This year, they’ve stuck with Zvada, whose longest made field goal is 56 yards, and he’s yet to miss in a dozen extra-point attempts.
asserted
he → stick → attempts
Harbaugh said he didn’t agree with the unnecessary roughness penalty called on Cam Skattebo in the first quarter, when the running back ran over safety M.J. Stewart.
asserted
back → say → Stewart
Officials ruled that Skattebo illegally used his helmet to make contact, negating a 7-yard run.
asserted
Skattebo → rule → run
“I understand the idea, but I also understand human physiology and anatomy and the way the body works,’’ Harbaugh said.
asserted
Harbaugh → understand → physiology
“[Skattebo] runs low.
asserted
Skattebo → run → ?
You have to run low to protect the football.
asserted
You → have → football
You have to run low to protect your body.
asserted
You → have → body
When you run low, your head is down there, too.
asserted
head → run → ?
You can’t move your head off your shoulders.
asserted
You → move → shoulders
It’s a physical impossibility.”
asserted
It → ’ → ?
The coach was also confident Skattebo, who had fumble issues result in a benching a week ago, didn’t intentionally hit Stewart with his helmet.
asserted
issues → have → helmet
“I’m quite sure [Skattebo]’s not trying to use his helmet as a weapon,” Harbaugh said.
asserted
Harbaugh → ’m → weapon
“That’s not the way he’s thinking.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
He’s leading with his shoulder.
asserted
He → lead → shoulder
That’s what he’s trying to do.
asserted
he → ’ → what
He’s trying to keep his head in a good, upright position, but his pads are down there low.
asserted
pads → try → position
That’s a good thing.
asserted
That → ’ → ?
That’s the way you’re supposed to run.
asserted
you → ’ → ?
I didn’t have a problem with the technique, personally, at all.
asserted
I → have → technique
But we haven’t heard from the league.
asserted
we → hear → league
Maybe they’ll be able to enlighten us in terms of what they want us to teach and that would be great.”
asserted
that → enlighten → what
Harbaugh said he was “day to day” Monday after being tackled by Devin Singletary following Singletary’s game-winning touchdown.
asserted
he → say → touchdown
“It’s so terrible,’’ Harbaugh said with a smile of his failure to stay on his feet.
asserted
Harbaugh → ’ → feet
“As I was going down, all I could think was I just felt like a total non-athlete, over the hill [and] washed up.
uncertain
I → go → hill
I don’t know.
asserted
I → know → ?
I just felt so weak, so pathetic.”
asserted
I → feel → ?
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