Film Breakdown: What makes Gronk such a dominant red-zone player?

New England Patriots superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski cannot be stopped, regardless of where he is on the field.

However, there is one area of the field in which his play is arguably unmatched by any other player in NFL history: the red zone.

Gronkowski has caught 65 touchdowns during his six-year career - which leads the league since he was drafted in 2010 - with 51 of them coming within 20 yards of his opponents' end zone.

Simply put, when Gronkowski wants to score, there is usually little a defense can do to stop it.

We reviewed all of Gronkowski's red-zone touchdowns over the past three seasons to reveal exactly how he's become so dominant.

The unstoppable slant route

Sometimes the best attack is the simplest option run to perfection.

That's often the mantra of the Patriots in the red zone with Gronkowski. At 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, Gronkowski is simply too strong and disciplined to allow defenders to regain positional advantage once he wins it.

That's why Gronkowski has perfected running one of football's simplest routes, the slant, because with his size, defenders cannot stop it.

Week 9 vs. Denver Broncos - 2014 season

From the 1-yard line, the Patriots are in their jumbo package, heavily signalling the run with tight ends on each end of the offensive line and a fullback in the backfield.

Only Gronkowski (circled red) is split out wide, facing Broncos linebacker Von Miller. Because of New England's personnel group, Denver has opted not to give any inside help to Miller. That means Gronkowski is looking to take advantage of the space between Miller and the inside linebackers (circled blue).

Gronkowski has the option to either drop his shoulder for the slant route or fade to the corner from this position. He takes several steps towards Miller, forcing him back, before planting his left foot (circled red) and driving towards the middle of the field.

Miller, for all his outstanding athletic traits, is still no match one-on-one for Gronkowski split out wide.

He's too far away from Gronkowski to try and be aggressive with his hands and attempt to affect the timing of the route, but Miller also fails to stay balanced, mirroring Gronkowski's step to the outside (circled yellow) and causing himself to be unable to react to the tight end's movement.

Once Gronkowski makes his cut inside, Miller has no way back. The tight end's massive frame shields any attempt from the linebacker to come back through him to fight for the pass.

Week 11 vs. Carolina Panthers - 2013 season

So how about when defenders covering Gronkowski's slant route try and play aggressive?

Once again, Gronkowski is split out wide to the left of the formation, with Panthers safety Quintin Mikell in coverage. The Panthers are playing Cover 1, with the safety, the linebacker closest to Gronkowski's side, and Mikell (circled yellow) all in position to defend the tight end's slant route.

With significant help, Mikell opts to engage Gronkowski on the line, despite giving up around eight inches and 60 pounds. He gets low, getting his hands into Gronkowski's chest. However, Gronkowski uses his plant foot (circled red) and right arm to gain inside leverage.

Gronkowski keeps his feet moving and is too strong for Mikell. He's able to fight through the press coverage and get in position for the slant.

Remember the other two defenders tasked with stopping Gronkowski?

The linebacker is too slow sliding outside to cover the slant and fails to properly wrap up, while the safety goes in high to little effect. Gronkowski shows off his immense strength by staying on his feet and stretching across for the score.

Body control, catching radius

Because of his mammoth physique, it's assumed that Gronkowski wins through athleticism alone. However, it's the way he's able to combine his physical tools and great technique that makes him so dangerous in the red zone.

Within the condensed space of the red zone, Gronkowski showcases outstanding control of his huge frame.

Week 14 vs. Houston Texans - 2015 season

Gronkowski is split out wide left in a four-receiver set, facing Texans safety Quintin Demps. The tight end is looking to gain leverage off the line in order to have the necessary separation for a fade route.

Demps' attempt to be physical with Gronkowski backfires, as the contact causes him to lose his balance. Gronkowski, however, has no such problems. He fights through, maintains his balance, and quickly looks back for the pass.

Gronkowski attacks the ball like a No. 1 wideout, twisting his body and catching it at its highest point.

While Gronkowski has a lack of competition for this ball, he routinely makes contested catches in the red zone that few players could make because of his body control and catching radius.

Week 9 vs. Denver Broncos - 2014 season

Week 1 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - 2015 season

It seems inevitable that Gronkowski will finish his career with the most touchdowns for a tight end in NFL history, as he's already over halfway to Tony Gonzalez's mark of 111.

Gronkowski would be a nightmare to defend if he was simply a great athlete, but under his fun-loving, party-ship organizing exterior, he's a football technician. That's why he's so unstoppable.

It appears only injury or the retirement of Tom Brady can halt Gronkowski's red-zone assault on the rest of the NFL.