Almost every other running play in Madden that isn't the HB Slam or the FB Dive will require you to have patience in the backfield. Just like in the real NFL, you need to allow your blocks to develop before making your move. Most Madden players make the same mistake on every running play by simply mashing down on the sprint button to run as fast as they can when they get the ball. However, if they had learned to use the sprint button with more appropriate timing they could've broken many of those runs for much bigger gains. Check out the example below to see what we mean.
The New Orleans Saints have come out in the I-Form Twin TE HB Swwp. This play is designed for the quarterback to turn around right after the snap and pitch the ball to the running back. Meanwhile, both the left guard and the fullback lead with blocks to the outside.
What most people do...
As quarterback Drew Brees pitches the ball to running back Reggie Bush we can see our two lead blockers paving the way. The Tampa Bay defense is in bad shape right now because our blockers outnumber the amount of defenders in the area. Clearly, we have a chance to turn this into a big run if we are patient in the backfield. Bush collects the ball and begins to turn upfield. We must slow down and allow our blocks to unfold if we want to get to the outside cleanly.
We make a big running mistake by holding the sprint button the entire time and not allowing our lead blockers to lock down on the approaching defenders. Now we have no protection in the open field and we must attempt to make a move on our own. We're able to shed one tackler, but the costly second of the broken tackle animation allows the surrounding defenders to close in. Bush is taken down at the line of scrimmage on a play that should've gone for a big gain.
Patience pays off...
This time we're going to try to be a bit more patient by slowing down and staying behind our blockers until we find a seam in the defense. As Bush takes the pitch we follow closely behind our blockers without sprinting ahead into the open field.
We slowly approach the line with running back Reggie Bush to give our blockers a tad more time to lock down on the approaching defenders. We hold the sprint button as soon as we find the slightest opening in the defense to get upfield as quickly as possible.
We are now able to get to the outside and turn this play into the result that we should've gotten the first time that we ran it. The end result was a nice gain of 5 yards and a big first down for our offense.
Having patience is one of the most important aspects in the running game. If you're able to learn how and when the blocking develops on each one of your running plays, then you will start to feel more comfortable in the backfield as you are waiting for an opening to attack. The HB Lead Toss is a great play to practice patience in the backfield because you are forced to wait on your blockers if you ever want to be able to consistently turn this play into a big gain.
