Madden 26: I Form Slot Close HB Stretch with the Randy Moss Speed Boost
Mar-05-2026 PSTIntroduction
In today's guide, I'm going to break down the best run in all of Madden 26 and show you how you can easily use it to beat every defense in the game. We're not only going to talk about this very specific run, but I'm also going to teach you how to do the speed boost glitch, how to get your receivers at running back, and actually a nice scheme around this run. If you need to upgrade your roster with top-tier players to maximize this strategy, you can buy Madden nfl 26 coins from trusted platforms to quickly acquire the talent you need.
This is probably the most toxic, annoying, yet hard to stop thing in the game right now. You want to use it.
The Formation and Play
What Formation Are We Using?
We're going to be looking at the I Form Slot Close formation. The specific play we're focusing on is the HB Stretch.
You can find this formation in different playbooks, but I would recommend the Minnesota Vikings playbook. Minnesota is going to allow us to audible into some very toxic shotgun formations such as Gun Bunch Tight End, giving us versatility beyond just the run game.
The Secret Weapon: Randy Moss at Running Back
I'm sure you're looking at this and wondering, "How do you have Randy Moss at running back?" Here's the trick.
What you need to do is go into your depth chart and put Randy Moss as your gadget player. As you can see, he has 95 speed, 95 change of direction, and all his stats are absolutely crazy. He is the most explosive player by far in the game right now with a very solid player model.
Once you set him in your depth chart, you can flick the right analog stick to use the gadget at HB package, and it will put him in the game at running back. You could technically do this with any player, but Randy Moss is the best.
Understanding Your Personnel
Once you do this, you're going to essentially have three receivers on the field, plus your fullback (who is actually a running back—I have Shape Shifter here, really fast) and a tight end. This means this is technically now three receiver personnel.
This gives you the ability to audible to all sorts of different shotgun formations and really go crazy with your offense.
Why This Run Destroys Defenses
The Man Coverage Exploit
This run is really good for a couple different reasons. The first thing is you get two receivers to the left side of the formation.
If the defense is in man coverage, like here we're facing man, three for odd, you'll notice that nobody is lined up outside of the tight end. You have to realize that pretty much everybody this year uses their coaching adjustments to put their safeties on close and pin pinch for the depth and the whip.
What that essentially does is make them line up too far in the middle to even get to the outside. If you see any sort of man defense, just running to the tight end side is a touchdown. They are completely out-leveraged over there.
I'm not even doing the speed boost yet, and it's still a touchdown. That's just how broken this is against man coverage.
How to Do the Speed Boost Glitch
The Method
Most people don't really know how to do this consistently. It's not that hard, but it does take a little bit of practice. Here's the method I use to ensure I get the speed boost outside every time.
When I snap the ball, I actually let the computer take the first one or two steps up. Once I take those first one or two steps up, that is when I immediately do a hard cut to the outside while holding down turbo.
You have to do this immediately. You have to be holding turbo while you do a hard cut to the outside. Kind of just like that.
That's what allows you to get that speed boost to the outside.
Why It Works
You can see how explosive this is. With a 95 speed player like Randy Moss, there is no way that they're going to catch you. You're untouched and gone.
You could just take the first couple steps up yourself and then speed boost outside, but I like to let the computer do it for consistency.
Running Against Zone Coverage
Option 1: Run to the Right
Against zone, you have some options. The first thing you can do is just run it to the right the same way we did before. It's still solid yards. You don't even need to speed boost every time.
If you do speed boost, yes, you will get more yards out there, but you don't even need to. The run is fundamentally strong.
Option 2: Run to the Left
I personally against zone like to flick the right analog stick and run left. Why? Because you're going to have the twins receivers to that side, plus a corner outside the tight end. Honestly, you have better numbers over here.
You can easily get outside and once again, without even having a speed boost, you can get a touchdown.
Option 3: Motion the Receiver
If you did want to run this way, you could just motion this receiver across the formation. Because it's zone, the defender won't follow him. This almost turns it into like an I Form Close look.
Look at the speed boost you can get outside. It's crazy. Even if you don't hold your block perfectly, you're still getting three or four yards.
Running to the left against zone can be a lot of highlight plays, but running to the right is still good too, especially if you add that extra blocker.
The Audible Scheme: Expanding Your Offense
Setting Up Your Audibles
Here's where this scheme really gets crazy. You can start just audibling around to different formations. I would recommend setting some audibles in your Gun Bunch Tight End formation.
The Minnesota playbook has a really good Bunch Tight End set. They have spacing plays, whips, RPOs, mesh concepts, and even the automotion plays like the cheat HBC. I actually really, really like that play too.
There is legitimately just a ton you can do.
Reading the Defense
First of all, when you come out in I Form Slot Close, you can get a good read if they're in man or zone by looking at the way the defense lines up. Once you have that read, you can audible accordingly.
Because you're using this package with your three receivers, you can now audible into Bunch Tight End and abuse a lot of different things.
What Happens When You Audible
When you do audible, by the way, your receiver will go to receiver and your running back will go to running back. The receiver is only at running back for the formation you came out in. When you audible, he moves to receiver, but that's fine.
Options in Bunch Tight End
The RPO: You can abuse the RPO game. And the thing is, if you have Shape Shifter at fullback, he gets speed boost too. Randy Moss and Shape Shifter right now are just completely unfair together.
Whips: The whip routes are a good play that can beat multiple coverages.
Spacing: Great against zone coverage.
The Automotion Play: I actually really, really like this automotion play because the running back route out of the backfield is crazy. It creates mismatches and confusion for the defense.
Summary: Your Complete Game Plan
Step 1: Set Your Depth Chart
Put Randy Moss (or your fastest receiver) as the gadget player in your depth chart.
Step 2: Choose the Vikings Playbook
The Minnesota playbook gives you I Form Slot Close and the ability to audible into Gun Bunch Tight End.
Step 3: Use the HB Package
Flick the right analog stick to put your gadget player at running back in I Form Slot Close.
Step 4: Read the Defense
Look at how the defense lines up. If they're in man, run to the tight end side for an easy touchdown. If they're in zone, you have multiple options.
Step 5: Execute the Speed Boost
Snap the ball, let the computer take the first step or two, then immediately cut hard to the outside while holding turbo.
Step 6: Audible When Needed
If you want to mix it up, audible into Gun Bunch Tight End and run RPOs, whips, spacing, or automotion plays. To ensure your team has the top-tier players needed to execute these advanced schemes effectively, you can visit MMOEXP and buy Madden nfl 26 coins to strengthen your roster.