A few passes sailed over the receivers' heads. A few more slipped through their hands. But of Deshaun Watson's six throws of 25 yards or more against Troy, just one found its intended target.
Looking for an explanation for Clemson's early struggles on offense? Start with those deep balls and follow the ripples outward from there.
"It's critical," coach Dabo Swinney said. "You have to make those plays. That's our offense. We attack. We don't sit back and play to punt the ball. We try to go score, and that's what makes us explosive is, it's a playmaker's offense.