Moorpark QB Barry getting professional help
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When whispers began circulating throughout Ventura County that former NFL quarterback Bob Gagliano, a seven-year veteran with four teams, was working closely with Moorpark quarterback Adam Barry, I had to find out if the rumor was true.
‘Yes, Bob has been working with Adam privately, but we were trying to keep things quiet,’’ Moorpark Coach Tim Lins said.
Off-season work under the tutelage of Gagliano and weekly discussions since have enabled Barry, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior, to develop into an NCAA Division I prospect. He’s completing more than 50% of his passes this season for 902 yards and six touchdowns in four games.
‘Bob has a great knowledge of the game and I try to pick his brain as much as possible when he’s around, ‘’ Barry said Thursday after practice, getting ready for tonight’s/Friday’s Marmonte League game against visiting Royal (1-3, 0-1).
‘He’s a great coach. A technician. Funny thing is, that he’s calm and patient. He explains things well. He knows what people are looking for at the next level, in college, and the NFL, too. It’s great being around a guy who’s been there before.’’
How cool would that be, to have a former NFL quarterback’s number in your cell-phone? A guy you can call, at just about anytime, for advice if your struggling with figuring out what to do when you see a Cover 2 defense at the line of scrimmage.
‘It’s pretty cool,’’ Barry said. ‘We talk a lot. He’s like an older brother sometimes.’’
Barry hasn’t received much, if any, national recognition during his three years as the Musketeers’ starter. And flying underneath the radar was easy considering the number of talented quarterbacks in Southern California in recent years. Besides, the college recruiters who did pay attention to Moorpark over the last year or two were enamored with running back Darrell Scott, who started for the Musketeers as a sophomore and junior before transferring to Ventura St. Bonaventure over the summer.
With Scott gone, Moorpark (2-2, 0-1) is Barry’s team now. But once again, he’s being overshadowed. This time by a standout group of senior quarterbacks, including Notre Dame’s Dayne Christ (University of Notre Dame), Edison’s Nick Crissman (UCLA) and Corona Centennial’s Matt Scott (Arizona) leading the way.
The gap could be closing, though, with the help of Gagliano. Arizona, Boise St. Idaho St., Montana, Nevada and New Mexico have expressed interest in Barry, though no official scholarship offers have been made as of yet.
‘Adam has grown quite a bit. He’s mature now,’’ Lins said. ‘He’s physically gifted. He’s got the mental aspect of things down, too. He’s become a student of the game. He’s college-ready. He’s got a ton of upside.’’
Barry has a mentor too, with an NFL pedigree, no less.
- Sean Ceglinsky, guest blogger