Quinn Meinerz is an impressive talent on the field. Alongside Pat Surtain II, I would argue that he deserves recognition as one of the best draft selections made by the Denver Broncos in recent years, particularly from the outstanding 2021 draft class. Meinerz consistently dominates his opponents, creating substantial openings in the run game and providing ample protection in the pass game. His ability to control the line of scrimmage is remarkable, showcasing skills that are essential for any top-tier offensive lineman.

His performance against the Atlanta Falcons stands out as potentially the best of his season thus far, illustrating his growth as a player and his impact on the game.

A dedicated analysis of Meinerz is long overdue. I realize I have overlooked this throughout the entire season, but it’s time to correct this oversight and delve into his performance.

Here’s a comprehensive breakdown that will cover every offensive snap Meinerz took during the game this past Sunday. There are numerous highlights that deserve detailed examination.

Comprehensive Statistical Analysis of Meinerz’s Performance

Throughout the game, the Denver Broncos executed a total of 60 offensive plays, with Meinerz on the field for each one. His presence was crucial in both running and passing situations, showcasing his versatility and stamina.

Out of those 60 plays, the Broncos opted for a run 25 times and a pass 35 times, demonstrating a balanced offensive strategy. Meinerz played a pivotal role in facilitating both types of plays.

On the 25 running plays, Meinerz was instrumental, as the Broncos ran behind him 11 times, gaining a total of 55 yards. This impressive statistic translates to an average of 5.5 yards per carry, highlighting his effectiveness in the run game.

In the passing game, Meinerz participated in 35 snaps of pass protection. Remarkably, he allowed just one pressure, with no quarterback hits or sacks, showcasing his reliability as a protector for the quarterback.

According to the RGS metrics, Meinerz recorded three “great” plays (1.5 points), 50 “good” plays (1 point), six “meh” plays (0.5 points), and one “bad” play (0 points). He did incur one false start penalty, which cost him one point.

This performance totals an impressive 56.5 points, reflecting a remarkable 94.2% success rate. Without that penalty, his score would have risen to 95.8%, demonstrating his overall effectiveness.

Analyzing Meinerz’s Impactful Gameplay

While reviewing the game footage, my notes consistently highlighted Meinerz’s “good hips” and “demonstrated strength.” These attributes stand out as his two greatest qualities, which are characteristic of some of the best linemen throughout football history.

His ability to utilize his hips for leverage, while maintaining balance and strength from his base, makes it incredibly challenging for opposing defensive linemen to overpower him. This skill is crucial for any offensive lineman aiming to excel.

Moreover, Meinerz often delivered powerful hits to defenders, pushing them back a yard or two, or even knocking them to the ground, further emphasizing his dominance on the field. Watching him play is genuinely exciting.

You can observe this momentum building during the Broncos’ first drive, as Meinerz consistently outperformed his opponents throughout the game.

One aspect of his game that I particularly admire is his relentless pursuit of contact. He excels at blocking downfield during screens and runs, as well as supporting either Wattenberg or McGlinchey in pass protection.

Detailed Breakdown of Meinerz’s Key Plays

Highlights of Exceptional Performance

In this play, Meinerz showcases his blocking prowess by effectively engaging two defenders while assisting both Wattenberg and McGlinchey. As the defensive end shifts inside and the defensive tackle attacks the A gap, Meinerz successfully occupies both gaps that the defense is attempting to penetrate, preventing any push from the defenders.

This level of performance is nothing short of remarkable.

Many offensive linemen, including myself, have heard the phrase “pass protection isn’t passive” countless times. Meinerz embodies this principle perfectly in this play and throughout the game.

Initially, he does an excellent job passing off the slanting defensive tackle to Wattenberg while keeping his hips square to the line of scrimmage. This technique allows him to quickly engage with the blitzer, who he then embarrasses by enticing him inside and subsequently driving him across the field, effectively removing him from the play. This was a solid representation of his skills.

I greatly appreciate the effort Meinerz demonstrated in this clip. He and McGlinchey executed a nearly flawless double team on a first-level defender and seamlessly passed that block off to engage a linebacker attempting to slant over them.

What stands out in this play is Meinerz’s excellent footwork, maintaining a wide base, and ensuring his hips remain engaged in the block. This technique prevents any space between him and the defensive tackle, thereby making it difficult for the tackle to read the ball and disengage from the block.

Meinerz’s ability to keep his feet moving and his hands active throughout the play is impressive.

This play perfectly illustrates how to effectively engage a linebacker. Having a player like Meinerz on your team allows you to run HB Power plays with confidence, which are among the most effective plays in football.

Meinerz demonstrates the ability to surge off of his own player’s backside with momentum, square up the linebacker filling the gap, secure excellent hand placement, and drive the linebacker approximately five yards downfield. This is an exemplary display of how to completely eliminate a defender from a play and was executed exceptionally well. I considered rating this play a 1.5 instead of just a 1 due to its quality.

Moderately Effective Plays

Here’s an illustration of a technically adequate block, yet lacking execution.

The play appears to be a GY Counter, and Meinerz is tasked with blocking the first outside defender on the line of scrimmage. Due to the defensive end’s inward shift, the linebacker ends up filling the C gap.

Perhaps the speed at which the linebacker approached threw Meinerz off, but regardless of the cause, he only manages to clip the defender instead of fully blocking him out. He technically fulfills his role by hitting the inside shoulder of the linebacker, causing him to move around the block and away from the rushing lane. However, the execution was not visually appealing and led Adkins to believe he needed to obstruct the linebacker, rather than being able to burst through the gap.

Another example of a “meh” block occurs when Meinerz technically executes his assignment, but lacks the strategic execution that could elevate his performance.

The offensive line’s objective is to run parallel to the line of scrimmage, directing the defense to the left while keeping the defensive line aligned to the left as well. While Meinerz does manage to keep the blitzing linebacker to his left, it’s clear he does not gain any ground with his first step, allowing the linebacker to penetrate slightly. If Meinerz had made a lateral advance with his left foot initially, this scenario could have been avoided.

Identifying Poor Execution

The singular “bad” block attributed to Meinerz during this game occurred in pass protection.

In this instance, the Falcons executed a stunt with the linebacker dropping into the A gap and shifting outside with the defensive tackle, while the defensive end loops back into the A gap. The primary mistake Meinerz makes is that at the peak of the block, he gets nearly completely turned outside. This positioning prevents him from posting back inside to pick up the slant and to push Wattenberg out to the looper.

This misstep results in both the looper and the linebacker applying pressure on Nix. This was the only pressure Meinerz allowed throughout the game.

Exceptional Screen Blocking Performance

Meinerz was exceptional in his screen blocking during the game, and this example is just one of many that highlight his skills.

His release angle is impressive as he moves laterally down the line of scrimmage to gain outside leverage against the defense. Following this, he accelerates upfield while keeping his eyes locked on his target. As he progresses upfield, he maintains inside leverage on the defender and delivers a powerful strike that sends the linebacker to the ground. This is a fantastic display of his blocking ability.

This play is a defining moment for both the team and the season, and Meinerz played a crucial role in making this goal possible.

What appears to be a simple inside zone play out of a single-back formation demonstrates excellent displacement at the point of attack. Bolles executes a great iso block on the defensive end, clearing a rushing lane in the B gap. However, a linebacker does a commendable job of flowing over the top and positioning himself well. Still, Meinerz’s instincts and speed enable him to clear the field and eliminate the linebacker just in time, allowing Williams to make a cut.

Meinerz then quickly moves into the pile, contributing to pushing the entire team into the end zone. This is an excellent showcase of his effort and determination.

For our final analysis, let’s look at a play involving a wide receiver screen to Troy Franklin that gains six yards.

Want to know a surefire way to execute a “great” block? Dominate two defenders on the same play.

In this situation, the linebacker that Meinerz blocks reads the play well and retreats. Still, Meinerz executes an ideal block, akin to those seen on outside runs. He employs the rip technique to counter