Coach -
Confusion kills an offense. Ask any coach who's seen a quarterback hesitate between pulling and handing off. JR Davies, now in his first season coaching running backs for the Calgary Stampeders after years in scouting and high school coaching, attacks that confusion head-on. His approach to installing RPOs is simple, direct, and brutally clear.
Davies doesn’t just put plays on a whiteboard. He puts the quarterback's eyes exactly where they need to be through utilizing a free virtual reality tool.
"This is who we’re reading. This is the look you need," Davies says. "We’re all looking at the same thing. We’re all on the same page." No guesswork. No second-guessing.
The first install he teaches is called "Gray" — a simple glance RPO that gives the quarterback a clear rule: read the Sam linebacker. If the Sam commits to the run, rip it out and fire the glance route. If the Sam drops into pass coverage, hand the ball off.
The structure is purposefully clean:
- The number two receiver runs to occupy the field safety, clearing space.
- The number one receiver runs a five-step glance, slicing into the cleared window.
- The quarterback identifies the conflict defender — the Sam backer — and trusts the rules.
Davies is relentless about details. He demands the quarterback control the ball — a concept he calls having a "death grip" — so there’s no blame between the runner and thrower. If it’s pulled, it's the quarterback's responsibility.
To make it even more real, Davies uses the GoArmy Edge VR simulation, putting quarterbacks in the exact look they’ll see on game day. Instead of static diagrams, players see defenders moving, filling, reacting — just like live action.
The static playbook view:
Screenshot of the QB view post snap:
"When the quarterback says, ‘Coach, I threw the ball,’" Davies explains, "then we know we’re good. We’re seeing the same thing."
Through GoArmy Edge, players can rehearse pre-snap reads and post-snap reactions. They learn to see the Sam inserting into the box or holding in coverage — and instantly make the correct decision.
Clear reads. Fast decisions. Full trust. That’s how JR Davies simplifies the RPO — and that's how you build quarterbacks who play decisively instead of defensively.
View the video of Coach Davies showing this RPO on Go Army Edge:
As you get into spring and summer ball, you can create more reps for the decision-making heavy components of your offense outside of practice with Go Army Edge.
Coach Davies' presentation at Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic provides you with step-by-step way to get it done and maximize player learning.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski
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