Brashard Smith shares what he likes about new Miami offense

Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Brashard Smith recently explain what stands out to him about the team’s new offense.

This comes as the Hurricanes are on their third offensive coordinator in as many seasons. Rhett Lashlee left to become the head coach at SMU while head coach Manny Diaz got fired. Diaz was replaced by Mario Cristobal. Josh Gattis came in to be the new Miami offensive coordinator at that point, but things didn’t work out and now Shannon Dawson is set to run the offense.

“I like the tempo, how quick we are, just going,” Brashard Smith said. “And we can just throw somebody in, somebody out real quick, and just — it’s like the same guy is in there. So, yes, sir.”

Coming over from Houston, Shannon Dawson is an Air Raid disciple who likes to run an up-tempo offense. Now, as he explained, the goal at Miami is to blend those philosophies with a power running game.

“I learned from the guys that revolutionized the pass game in college football. The important thing to understand is look, Air Raid is kind of a mentality – [back in the day] they didn’t use tight ends, it was all four receivers. The game changes over time, you have to evolve with it,” Dawson explained.

“When I was at West Virginia we had tight ends on the roster, learned how to use them, be more physical in the run game and understanding that running effectively helps you throw more in terms of yards. What you really want to do is attack down the field, have to get defenses to play up on you. If you don’t run efficiently they’re going to drop eight. So, I’m going to try to get those guys to commit to stop the run, but my eyes are on those safeties 100 percent of the time. God forbid they inch up because we’ll go over the top of them.”

Brashard Smith wants to take the next step

Coming out of high school, Brashard Smith was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2021, per On3’s Industry Rankings. Despite still being young and having to play in several different systems, Smith has flashed his potential. Now, he wants to take the next step as a player.

“I feel like, for me, it’s just slowing down like the game,” Brashard Smith said.

“Like trying to go too fast and like just slow down and just do my job and just focus on what you have and just play. Play football. I feel like my best year will be coming up.”

Luckily for Smith, he will have a new position coach in 2023 too — Kevin Beard. Smith praised Beard this spring.

“The best coach I’ve ever had,” Smith said. “Receiver-wise, he’s teaching me everything — like the little things and just my routes and getting up on a defender and stuff like that. I feel like it’s a big change for me and the younger guys coming in.”