CLEMSON — Sometimes there is nothing anyone can do.

This is the situation the Clemson Tigers are in at defensive back.

What is that exactly?

The Tigers cannot play press man simply because their defensive backs are unable to cover wide receivers in one-on-one situations. It has been the Achilles heel for the defense all season and it has shown up in each of the Tigers’ four losses.

“I think it is reality,” Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen said. “That is where you have to find ways to help those guys because man coverage is man coverage. You have to be able to disguise, but like it says, ‘I am covering you.’ It is one-on-one and you have to be able to win those one-on-ones.”

Clemson (3-4, 2-3 ACC) has not been able to cover anybody of significance this fall. Last week, SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings burned Clemson for 290 yards and two touchdowns, though he had his worst passing game of the season.

Jennings completed just 23 of 43 passes and threw an interception in the Mustangs’ win at Memorial Stadium. However, he threw a 70-yard TD and a 22-yard scoring toss, though his 70-yard TD pass to Jordan Hudson was a coverage bust while the secondary was in Cover 3.

So much for disguising coverages.

“(Man coverage) is a real area of focus and it can definitely hinder you when you do not have that ability to do it, like you want to be able to do it,” Allen said. “It can hinder what you are able to do structurally and schematically. So, that is definitely a major priority for us in this off-season to address that and be able to help us in that area.”

The Tigers, who have the week off before playing Duke on Nov. 1, will lose cornerbacks Avieon Terrell and Jeadyn Lukus to graduation and likely one or two more in the secondary depending on who wants to leave and who the coaches bring in.

Clemson will likely go to the transfer portal to bring someone new in, hoping it provides experience and depth, as well as the ability to cover in man coverage.

“The more you can do that, the more creative you can be and the more you can do,” Allen said. “It allows us to be the defense I envision us becoming.”

Right now, the Tigers are trying to find a way to make it through what has been a long season.