Clemson vs Georgia Tech: Are the Tigers rebuilding or reloading on defense?

The Clemson football team is said to be in a rebuilding year on the defensive side of the ball. Or is it?

After making it to its first national championship game in 34 years, Clemson football showed up on the big stage. They outplayed and outgained Alabama but special teams and defensive miscues led to a 45-40 loss.

Can the Clemson Tigers make it back to a title game? And if so, how long would it take to do it-another 34 years?

Those were the questions facing the program after the 2015 national championship game loss. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney confidently answered those questions during his post game interview.

"“There’s no doubt we’ll be back and it won’t be 34 years before we’re going to be back. I promise you that,” said Swinney in his opening statements. “Our team is built to sustain success.” We’ve got the right ingredients from a toughness standpoint, talent standpoint and again, just the will to win and the culture we have in the program.”"

Even with the probable losses of Shaq Lawson (24.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks), Kevin Dodd (24 TFL, 12.5 sacks), T.J. Green, Mackensie Alexander and Jayron Kearse early to the NFL and seniors B.J. Goodson (108 tackles, 5.5 sacks), Travis Blanks and D.J. Reader on defense, Dabo still felt like the Clemson football program was built to last.

There were definitely skeptics and who could blame them. Especially, when defensive coordinator Brent Venables was tasked to essentially rebuild a defense that lost eight starters, of which six are in the NFL today.

Clemson football finds themselves in a very comparable situation heading into Thursday night’s season opener against Georgia Tech.

Before the start of 2016, on the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was recently named CFB Player of the Decade, was back to lead an offense that amassed 550 yards against a great Alabama defense without receivers Mike Williams(injured) and Deon Cain (suspended).

Offense is a strength again this season with quarterback Trevor Lawrence back after passing for 347 yards and three touchdowns in the title game. The preseason Heisman candidate will have returning weapons Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross on the outside and ACC Football Player of the Year Travis Etienne in the backfield.

In 2016, there were doubts whether Clemson could get back to a title game. However, this time is different in one important way. Clemson has history on its side.

Not many doubt whether Clemson can make it to the 2020 National Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA, after winning two national titles in three years. In fact, the Tigers were voted number one in the AP and Coaches preseason polls.

But like 2016, Venables has to replace leadership and tons of production from a standout defense.

Gone from the 2018 defense are vocal, charismatic leader Christian Wilkins(14 TFL, 5.5 sacks), Clelin Ferrell(20 TFL, 11.5 sacks), Trayvon Mullen, Dexter Lawrence, Tre Lamar, Kendall Joseph and Austin Bryant.

Can Venables find the pieces to avoid a puzzling outcome and end with another masterpiece?

Facing a Georgia Tech team with an entirely new offense is probably not the ideal situation for his young players, but it could just be the right scenario to see who is ready for primetime.

Here are a few key players to watch on defense:

Cornerbacks: Sophomores receiver/corner Derion Kendrick and Mario Goodrich, redshirt sophomore LeAnthony Williams, and freshmen Sheridan Jones and Andrew Booth.

Linebackers: Backups, redshirt freshman Jake Venables and redshirt sophomore Braylon Spector.

Defensive line: Backups, freshman Tyler Davis, redshirt freshman Darnell Jefferies and redshirt junior Xavier Kelly.

A good performance on Thursday could determine how often these players see the field against Texas A&M on Sept. 7, and if Venables can trust the defensive depth moving forward.

Venables made all the right moves in 2016 and the yield was a return trip to the championship and a second national championship for the Clemson football program.

The experience gained by the Clemson defense on Thursday night could initially give insight into whether 2019 is a reloading year with hopes of a title, or a rebuilding year set on improving and anxiously waiting on the outstanding 2020 recruiting class to arrive on campus.