CLEMSON — Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney says his defense is soft on the perimeters, especially his cornerbacks and the “Tiger” position.

“We are not playing well at corner right now, or at Tiger,” Swinney said. “So, we are soft on the perimeter, and we’ve got to get better.”

Swinney says the cornerbacks and the “Tiger” which is what Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen calls the nickel position, are playing with poor technique, poor fundamentals, not playing with confidence and to their capabilities.

“We got to get better,” he said. “I think disappointment is a part of it too.

“These guys work their butts off and they live in a very loud world. And sometimes disappointment can lead to a little bit of lack of confidence or guys doing too much or whatever, instead of focusing on the things you need to focus on.”

Clemson’s head coach did not just call out his cornerbacks during his Sunday conference call with the media. He was hard on the entire defense for being unable to get stops late in the third and fourth quarters.

The Tigers (1-2, 0-1 ACC) allowed Georgia Tech to possess the football on a 13-play, 90-yard touchdown drive that took 6:15 off the clock and then a 10-play, 38-yard drive that setup the game-winning field goal – a 55-yard kick as time expired.

The ‘Jackets used the final 3:26 of the game clock.

Though Clemson held the Yellow Jackets 124 yards below their season average on the ground, quarterback Haynes King averaged 4.1 yards per carry and ran for 103 yards and one score.

Georgia Tech was also 8-of-15 on third down, including four third-down conversions on the final two drives.

“You need one stop,” Swinney said.

Swinney complimented his defense on getting two fourth down stops and recording eight tackles for loss and holding the Yellow Jackets to just three points after quarterback Cade Klubnik turned the ball over two times.

But when they needed to make plays, especially on the edges, the perimeter of the defense was just too soft in the end.

“They blocked us and we didn’t do a good enough job of winning that matchup… So, there is a lot of opportunity to improve,” Swinney said.