What dictates if a QB will take off and run or not? Through 5 games, my QB has been sacked 23 times. My offensive line is pass block heavy, but at this rate my rookie QB is on for David Carr type numbers and he'll be a broken man in 3 years!

Most of my sacks look like this (so really, hard to blame my o-line anyway):
http://cust33.myfootballnow.com/watch/1136#205023

My QB takes the snap, rolls out (without needing to, and it's not in the play design), ignores the wide open streaking slot receiver on the right, then stands near the sideline and takes a sack. Had he taken off up the sideline, could have had a 1st down.

Yet in my last game, I had this as well:
http://cust33.myfootballnow.com/watch/1136#205148

Why did he suddenly decide to take off? Wide receiver locks up his man, easy first down. Is it the scrambling attribute that dictates this?

I understand the need for balance, and you can't implement running QBs and QB designed runs without the adequate plays for a defence to counter (spy, for example). I just wanted to know what was responsible for the difference between the two plays above, and how I can get more of the 2nd play for 1st downs rather than the 1st play and turning my QB into a a future claimant in a class action lawsuit regarding CTE :)

Very basic summary about how QBs work:

1) They read one receiver at a time until the receiver finishes the route
2) They randomly choose who the primary receiver on the play will be based on the routes being run and type of passing play
3) When flushed from the pocket, they run parallel to the LOS until they reach the sideline and then they turn upfield
4) Because of number 1 and 2, accuracy is the most important attribute that a QB can have (I argue that release is number two, but this is debatable)
5) Because of 1, 2, and 3 mobile QBs have become a necessity because of how the pass block code works in conjunction with the under pressure code

Here's a whole bunch of threads:

Scrambles that result in sacks: http://mfn19.myfootballnow.com/community/1/1270?page=0#7435

Insight into QB read progression: http://mfn19.myfootballnow.com/community/1/1321?page=2&x=1buknm&y=bvw#7802

QB read progression thread two: http://mfn19.myfootballnow.com/community/1/1349?page=0

QB primary receiver: http://mfn19.myfootballnow.com/community/3/1361?page=0

League post about mobile QBs: http://mfn19.myfootballnow.com/forums/1/400?page=0#1348

QB rant megathread: http://mfn19.myfootballnow.com/community/1/1070?page=0

Great job seth

Awesome, thank you so much for this. Lot of reading to do, good stuff!