JD PicKell: Identifying potential top target in Miami offense

Miami has high expectations on the offensive side of the football in 2022, largely due to the presence of star quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. But one major question for Miami is who will step up and emerge as the top wide receiver.

In a recent episode of The Hard Count, On3’s J.D. PicKell evaluated Miami’s offense and pointed out a couple of options to emerge as Van Dyke’s go-to receiver in 2022.

“They are looking for a wide receiver one to step up,” PicKell said of Miami. “Xavier Restrepo [is] a guy they are raving about, but he’s gonna be in the slot, he’s going to be that possession receiver. He’ll be a big contributor, but they need a wide receiver one to step up on the outside, to step up and replace what Charleston Rambo was. Now the guy that they’re pointing to and asking to step into that spot is Key’Shawn Smith.

“So for Key’Shawn Smith, can you be that guy that fills those shoes? Can you at least take some heat off my guy to where maybe you’re wide receiver one on paper and you’re our go-to guy, but can you just make the defense honor you? Because if you’re a wide receiver and you’re the wide receiver one, the defense has to treat you like that.”

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Smith emerging as Miami’s top receiver would be good news for the offense

Replacing Rambo’s production will no simple feat, as he had 79 receptions for 1,172 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Smith was Miami’s third leading receiver with 33 receptions for 405 yards and three touchdowns. Restrepo also caught 24 passes for 373 yards and two scores.

If Smith is able to turn into a clear-cut top option at receiver, the rest of Miami’s offense will benefit. The Hurricanes will be more open to running their full offense with the presence of a top wideout, and PicKell thinks that could be the key to success in 2022.

“If they’re going to give you wide receiver one level attention, well then we can run our offense then we can actually get into some different schemes and we can be a little more diverse in what we call,” said PicKell. “And I think that is crucial. That’s going to open it up for Restrepo, it’s going to open it up for the backs. You got to have counters to everything, that’s the way football is.

“You can’t just throw right hook combos the whole game. Some teams can, but I think Miami specifically has to have different answers on offense. So for Key’Shawn Smith, he’s the guy they’re asking to step up and step up in a big way in 2022.”