Richard Obert

azcentral sports

Former Gilbert High coach Leland Rodgers is the Rattlers' strength and conditioning coach.

The Rattlers practice outdoors in the heat of Gene Autry Park in Mesa.

The team has won its past two games by more than 30 points.

The Rattlers' blue print for winning championships starts in the off-season, when players are given workouts and are expected to report to Mesa in top shape. If they don't pass coach Kevin Guy's pre-camp conditioning test, they don't practice.

Then, it continues through the 18-game regular season, through June, when temperatures hit triple digits, and under the watchful eye of strength and conditioning coach Leland Rodgers, who was brought in after the Rattlers' past two ArenaBowl championships to get the players into even better shape.

"The desert is part of being a Rattler, practicing in the heat, and that's part of the deal," Guy said. "A lot of teams come in here, and they're scared to death of the heat. And that's funny, because we play inside in air conditioning."

The Rattlers (14-0) have played 77 games since the 2011 season, reaching the ArenaBowl each of the past three seasons. They're trying to make this another 21-game marathon.

But it comes with aches and pains, fighting through injuries, rehabilitating, getting stronger not only physically but mentally.

Practices are outside at Gene Autry Sports Complex in Mesa and last close to noon. Water is readily available, and on the side Rodgers works players on injured reserve or simply trying to get to the next game after suffering an injury the week before.

He has them pulling ropes and carrying kettle bells, sometimes carrying loaded, five-gallon water jugs around the 50-yard field.

"We have some guys with NFL experience and come from major colleges," said Rodgers, former football coach at Gilbert High, who has worked as a strength and conditioning coach in the NFL. "My first task is to get these guys to buy into some different philosophies and different movements. That's happened, and we feel like we're having success with our strength program."

Receivers Maurice Purify and Tysson Poots have gotten through injuries after missing a month of the season and appear at full strength with four regular-season games to go.

Poots credits Rodgers for getting him back on the field from a leg injury.

"When you can't run, there are other things you can do for your upper body that will get your heart pumping," Poots said. "He has brought different elements to the team. He has helped us come back faster. And when we are back, we're better off."

Safety Jeremy Kellem is usually the last player to leave the practice field. He'll work with a teammate or grab the rope for cardio work.

"Coach makes sure we're in shape," Kellem said. "They push us. The whole Arizona Rattlers organization takes pride in being well-conditioned."

That conditioning shows up in the second half of games, when the Rattlers put away more fatigued teams.

The Rattlers lead the league in scoring, averaging 66.9 points a game. They are holding opponents to 47 points a game. They've won their past two games by more than 30 points.

There are weeks when the Rattlers may hold out a couple of players in practice to make sure they're getting the strength and rehab work from Rodgers and his crew to get ready for the game.

"I think we've been smart about it all season," Guy said. "There is a plan, and we follow through with the plan. I think the biggest thing is that (Rodgers) has adjusted the routine to the individual. It's not like the whole team is doing the same thing. He's working on guys' weaknesses and making them stronger.

"You can tell in the third and fourth quarters, our conditioning plays a huge part in those games."