My analysis of the 50+ yard runs by Hightower and Helu

Unfortuneately or fortuneately I couldn't watch the game.  Is there anywhere to see a full replay online?  Probably not, but just thought I'd ask.  Anyway I looked at a few of the highlights and the 2 50+ yard runs by the Skins were the most noticeable.

Here's where I saw the plays, and I watched each 10+ times: 

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011081951/2011/PRE2/redskins@colts#tab:watch

Hightowers run (2nd play of the game I believe)--

I read on the editors post that he thinks it was mainly Freeney's fault.  Freeney engaged the LT and they both basically went sideways.  Sure Freeney didn't blow up the play or accomplish anything, but I didn't see the play as his fault -- whether intentional or not he basically accomplished outside containment and wasn't moved backwards.  What I saw was Johnson get destroyed by the Center and LG (the point of attack on this running play), immediately after which the LG disengaged and quickly took care of Angerer completely.  Connor was blocked by the slot WR as if the slot WR was a guard.  Brackett overpursued outside and then was easily dealt with by the TE.  Bullitt meekly took a bad angle and whiffed.  Moala was on the RG but was rendered useless, not that that it really mattered -- but the RG quickly got free and helped out with Bethea.   Bethea did an adequate job in the end at FS in preventing the full TD run.

In the end, this was Antonio Johnson getting destroyed -- guaranteeing a nice 10+ yard run  (untouched RB past the line of scrimmage with a full head of steam).  It turned into 20 because our LBs overpursued and got blocked fully by a WR, a TE, and a Guard on his second blocking assignment of the play, and it turned into 50+ because our SS Bullitt made a play like a weak rubber bullet safety and Moala's single blocker was roaming 20 yards downfield near Bethea.

Helu's run --

Hughes engaged the tackle and basically got blocked inward.  It was thoroughly unimpressive DE play against a run at him, but he didn't quit and almost made the tackle after the horrendous gaffe by Brackett.  I think this was a well designed play for the formation we were in, because we didn't line up with easy containment for an outside run to the left (maybe it was a bad read by Bullitt who was in the backfield quickly and hit a more inside hole -- but he didn't give up either and ended up making the tackle way downfield after falling down in the backfield).  Our DTs did nothing special but this particular outside rush wasn't really their responsibility.

Powers dealt with the WR's block, realized the run play quickly enough, and did a good job slowing up Helu while dealing with the block.  This should have been a solid 7-10 yard rush, because of 1) Hughes not doing anything good at the point of attack and 2) formation/Bullitt hitting an inside hole.

It became 50 because Brackett simply did not clean up the tackle.  I guess he assumed Powers was going to tackle the RB while being blocked, or the RB was simply going to continue out of bounds.  Nope.  Brackett not only lazily whiffed on finishing the play, but Helu used Brackett as a shield from Lefeged who pursued aggressively and properly.

Then Hughes almost got him after not quitting, and Bullitt finally did get him because he has the speed to do so.

Wish that this wasn't all I could see, along with a Grossman interception, a few bad plays by Painter, an Orlovsky interception, and a nice screen catch and run by Javarris.  Gotta love Colts preseason highlights.