What has sparked Burn's big turnaround?

Most expansion teams would be thrilled to win half their games in their first two years of existence.

Boise Burn president Eric Trapp wanted more.

After watching Boise finish 8-8 and narrowly miss the playoffs in each of its first two seasons, Trapp changed coaches. The franchise then overhauled its roster in an effort to get over the hump.

The tinkering between Trapp and new head coach Brent Winter turned out to be just what the third-year af2 franchise needed. The Burn (11-2) own the second-best record in arenafootball2 and will host the franchise's first playoff game Aug. 1.

"We were pleased with the first two years, but this year has been even better," Trapp said. "We've taken it to the next level."

So what is behind the Burn's rise from mediocrity, heading into Saturday night's game at Qwest Arena? Players, coaches and front-office management point to five key factors.

WINTER ROLLS IN

The first domino to fall last offseason was head coach Lee Leslie. Trapp said he appreciated Leslie's effort and did not give a reason for replacing him, saying only that he "thought it was the right time."

Some were surprised to see Leslie go, but it was clear something needed to change.

"In the sports world, the first change generally is the coach," said Bart Hendricks, a Boise State Hall of Famer who played quarterback for the Burn in 2007 and currently works as the team's TV color analyst. "Lee certainly tried his best - we all did - but that's just the way it worked out."

The Burn filled their head coaching vacancy with Winter, a former Arena Football League assistant. Generally effusive butalways in control, Winter turned out to be the perfect man to manage a team of colorful, talented characters.

"Coach Winter has brought a fresh new vibe," said defensive coordinator Brandon Hazenberg, who has spent three seasons with the Burn as a player and assistant coach. "His best attribute is managing egos, and he's done a great job of that."

Winter also has boosted his team's performance on the field. Through 13 games, the Burn are outscoring their opponents by an average of 19 points.

"We thought coach Winter was the right fit," Trapp said. "And he has proven it with the results on the field."

NOT THROWN INTO THE FIRE

In the beginning, the Burn faced a challenge unique even for an expansion team: In addition to playing for a new team, many players were playing a new game.

"Our first year, we only had two or three guys who had ever played arena ball," Hendricks said. "That's huge because guys really have to make a big adjustment from the outdoor game."

Now, Boise is loaded with experienced players, including three who have been here from the start: receiver Casey Allen, linebacker Levi Madarieta and defensive lineman Mark Weivoda.

"Those guys just keep coming back," assistant general manager Scott Conklin said. "They deserve a lot of credit. They've been the character of this team, and they're finally getting rewarded for all their hard work."

In addition to the three stalwarts, Winter and Conklin managed to stockpile veterans at key positions, including defensive back (Ernie James, Nygel Rogers, Terrence Sanders and Tremaine Tyler), receiver (Jomo Wilson, Nichiren Flowers) and offensive line (Rich Seals, Mark Fenton, Palauni Ma'Sun).

"Experience is big," Madarieta said. "Just being able to understand the game and what's going on around you. ... I know I'm a much better player than I was three years ago."

LUCKY, AND GOOD

Talent and good fortune are two components to any championship squad, and this year the Burn have had both.

Thanks largely to his ties with the AFL, Winter has put together the most talented Burn roster yet. The AFL suspended operations this season, leaving many players in need of a place to play.

"The horses and the talent level (Winter) has brought in have been unbelievable," Hazenberg said.

Flowers has 22 touchdown catches and averages a league-best 15.5 yards per reception. Fullback Damian Walker has scored a team-record 14 rushing TDs. Sanders - a man Conklin calls "the best all-around player in af2" - has 75.5 tackles, seven interceptions and eight TDs, including seven on kick returns.

"Top to bottom, we have more depth and more talent than we've ever had," Madarieta said.

Talent, however, is only part of the equation. The 2007 and 2008 teams were ravaged by injury, a bullet Winter's squad has been able to dodge for the most part.

"My first two years, we had six different quarterbacks," said Allen, one of the few key players to be sidelined by injury this season. "So we've definitely had some bumps in the road."

Madarieta says avoiding those bumps has been a huge factor in the 11-2 start.

"It's a little bit of luck," the former Weiser High standout said. "I don't care how talented you are, if you have some key injuries, you're not going to be very good."

BLISTERING DEFENSE

Defense is a vital part of any successful football team, and Boise has one of the top units in the af2.

Heading into Saturday's home game against Tri-Cities, Boise ranks first in the league in opponent's pass efficiency (76.3), second in interceptions (27) third in takeaways (37) and fourth in points allowed (38.8). The Burn have 12 defensive touchdowns.

"It's been great," Allen said. "We know we don't have to play perfect every game to win because our defense is so awesome."

The defense is coordinated by third-year Burn assistant Bill Stone and Hazenberg, a former defensive back who recorded the first interception in franchise history in 2007. Stone organizes the defensive front, while Hazenberg orchestrates a complex secondary that has been a headache for opposing quarterbacks.

"We complement each other," Stone said. "Our units work in harmony and feed off each other. But the biggest thing is we have a lot of great athletes on our defense, so that makes our jobs easy."

HOMEGROWN TALENT

The list of former Boise State players who have signed with the Burn is long and includes names such as Hendricks, B.J. Rhode, Lee Marks and Tim Gilligan.

The former Broncos have been a hit with fans and enjoyed varying degrees of on-field success, but none have had the impact of this year's Boise State trio - quarterback Taylor Tharp, receiver Jerard Rabb and defensive lineman Alex Guerrero.

"Having three guys with those names is a blessing in this town," Conklin said. "They bring in a lot of fans, but they've also been bringing in a lot of wins for us."

Tharp ranks second in the league in completion percentage (68.6) and has thrown for 2,498 yards and 56 touchdowns in 12 games. Rabb, a deadly red-zone weapon, has 38 catches for 520 yards and 17 TDs. And Guerrero has developed into a dual threat with 12 tackles for loss and three rushing TDs as a goal-line fullback.

All three are af2 rookies.

"They are just three very good football players," Winter said. "Taylor has far exceeded my expectations, Alex has one of the highest motors of any player I've ever been around, and J-Rabb has stepped up in situations where we needed him to. They've been a big factor, they really have."