It’s no secret. Clemson struggled with its downfield passing game in 2017.
The Tigers ranked near the bottom of the FBS last season in the number of touchdown passes 20 or more yards down the field. To be honest, Clemson did not throw very many touchdowns.
Kelly Bryant, who start all 14 games and finished 13 of them, had just 13 touchdown passes all year, the second fewest by a starting quarterback at Clemson since 2011. As a team, the Tigers had just 17 all season.
In the spring, Clemson’s coaches put an emphasis on getting more production in the passing, especially with the long ball.