How to run with your quarterback
The quarterback can be one of the most versatile positions in the game, although it really depends on which QB you choose to use. There are of course QBs that are full statues and can only pass or vice versa, but a number of them can do a mix of the two, some exceptionally well. Lamar Jackson is a prime example of the latter, as he has proven along the way by winning the 2019 NFL MVP award with a phenomenal season.
You can run with any quarterback in Madden 21, but the degree of success will certainly vary depending on who you choose. We're going to go over a few scenarios here on how to run, including the planned and unplanned run with the quarterback.
Choosing a room will be the first thing you need to do and we'll start with the scripted series. For these, you're going to want to pick some sort of option set, with the play option being my favorite. Option sets give you a few different choices depending on how the defense reacts. If you see a linebacker crashing to get the quarterback, you can throw him to the RB on the outside. If the linebacker is chasing the ball carrier instead, you can split the gap and get a good distance by holding R2 and running. With a three-option game, you can even hand it over to another ball carrier by pressing the X on the right. When doing the triple option, the default is for the QB to grab onto the ball and go outside sprinting with R2 down.
The other option for running as a QB is going to be on unscripted games, where the first option is to skip. Essentially, you can decide to run with the QB at any time by holding down R2 and moving in the open direction. Some of the best games to be successful are sets with multiple wide outs that are spread so that defenders are more spread out as well. The Four Verticals set which is found in several shotgun sets is a great option here because you can see if you get wide receivers open fairly quickly and then bolt in if you don't see anything opening quickly.
There are a lot of action games that will get the QB out of the pocket almost immediately, which are great games to try and run for that. As soon as you get out, if you notice that there aren't any defenders outside in your path, hold down R2 and just start running for the first low marker. It's also the one where you can run to get closer to the sideline to try and throw the ball, as long as you're not past the line of scrimmage.
