the running back thing - thats all you. I know that on all madden, with unadjusted sliders, i can successfully inside. Its about reading the holes. Dont go in to every run trying to bust it out. Take those 3, 4, 5 yard runs and take them. the whole red,yellow ,green light thing is too complicated. I agree about the overthetoppasses...so nanoying. But the running in this game is good if you actually know how to hit holes. I have busted many a long runs on dives, because i get good blocks, and i make the right cuts.
Same, i can read defense very well. Im very good making big runs in the outside because i just know it, im alright running in the middle but i'd struggles for awhile then i'd finally break one. I know what your saying bro, you just cant run where you feel like running at because your obviously not gonna get where you want.
I'm not saying I get negative/minimal gains on inside runs, I'm saying that there are one, maybe two 20, 30, or even 40 yard runs per let's say a 16 game season in franchise mode. You dont want running backs breaking huge runs every game, but I mean how often do you break a 50 yard TD run? Once in a blue moon, and it's much more common than that.