AUBURN, Ala. -- Before the Auburn Tigers even started fall camp, amid already diminished expectations, they lost their most productive player.Tigers coach Gus Malzahn dismissed tailback Jovon Robinson hours before the first practice, leaving a team already seeking a quarterback with another significant void in the backfield.How well those two jobs get filled will go a long way toward deciding whether Auburn and Malzahns fast-paced offense rebound strongly or continue going in the wrong direction.Malzahn said the leadership is as strong as any team hes had. Theyve got a chip on their shoulder and theyve got something to prove, he said.That starts with the offense, which ranked 110th in passing offense and 94th in total yards thanks largely to the struggles of quarterbacks Jeremy Johnson and Sean White. The result was just a pair of Southeastern Conference wins two seasons after winning a league title and making the national championship game.Robinson emerged as the top runner late in the season though Peyton Barber topped 1,000 yards. Malzahn did not elaborate on the reasons for his dismissal, but it leaves sophomore Kerryon Johnson as the only returning back who logged a carry last season. Fullback Kamryn Pettway has moved to tailback, and Johnson is joined by freshman Kam Martin, a late addition who was released from his scholarship with Baylor.Weve been one of the better rushing teams in our league, I guess, for six years and well continue to be that, Malzahn said.Theyre going to need to be strong on the ground again with no established quarterback and having to replace two of the top three players in an already-thin receiving corps.Defensively, the line is well-stocked with highly rated recruits, including tackle Montravius Adams and end Carl Lawson, who has star potential but has battled injury problems. Guards Alex Kozan and Braden Smith anchor the offense.Graduate transfer T.J. Neal, who started 25 games for Illinois the past two seasons, joins Tre Williams at linebacker. Safety Rudy Ford has led the Tigers in tackles two straight years and cornerback Carlton Davis had a promising freshman season.SEASON OPENEROpening with national runner-up Clemson and quarterback Deshaun Watson, a Heisman Trophy finalist, is a huge challenge for a team trying to rebuild in a number of areas. The good news is its the first of five straight home games.WHOS THE QB? Junior college transfer John Franklin III is trying to challenge Johnson and White, who both had uninspiring stints as the starter last season. Franklin is the biggest running threat, but never won the starting job at either Florida State or junior college and has little experience. Multiple receivers from a strong signing class at the position will also have to step up in the passing game.STEELES DEFENSEKevin Steele is the teams third defensive coordinator in as many years and fourth in five seasons. The veteran former LSU, Clemson and Alabama coordinator is one of five new assistants on Malzahns staff.PREDICTIONThe Tigers have been at their best when outsiders arent expecting much from them -- and at their worst when theyre drawing loads of preseason buzz. After two straight disappointing seasons, they fall in the former category now while picked toward the bottom of the SEC West. There are a few games that seem like toss-ups, but 7-5 seems like a reasonable outcome. To blow past that win total would require improved quarterback play from last season and strides from the defense, plus the emergence of Kerryon Johnson or another tailback as a reliable go-to runner.---AP college football website: collegefootball.ap.org Brayden McNabb Golden Knights Jersey .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. 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Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. RIO DE JANEIRO -- France bounced back from a difficult week to claim its second team title in equestrian at the Rio Games, beating the United States to a gold medal in the show jumping Wednesday.Frances chances of claiming the title diminished last week when world No. 2 two Simon Delestre had to withdraw from the team after an injury to his horse, Hermes Ryan, in the stables at the Deodoro competition venue.The team suffered a further blow when Penelope Leprevost fell in Sundays first qualifier and was out of individual competition.We had really bad luck at the beginning of the week, but I think maybe it helped us to fight more and more, Kevin Staut said. Last week, it was unbelievable to think that we might get a medal, and for sure not the gold.But we have great players, great horses and were really proud of this medal. The most important thing is the team. Its four riders and we need all four riders to win this medal. Im really proud to be French, a rider and gold medal.Staut once again jumped a clear round, while teammates Roger-Yves Bost and Philippe Rozier picked up only a time penalty each.With the top three scores counting, France knew it had won gold, and so Leprevost did not even have to jump.Frances eventing team also won gold last week.It was Frances second team show jumping title after winning at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal with a foursome that included Roziers father, Jean-Marceel Rozier, who is in Rio.ddddddddddddow two gold medals in the family. Its unbelievable for me and my family, Philippe Rozier said.France finished the two-round competition on three faults, two fewer than the U.S. team of Kent Farrington, Lucy Davis, McLain Ward and Elizabeth Madden.It was a little deflating to go in knowing that we could not beat France, because that was our goal, Ward said. But it was a brilliant team performance.The U.S. was hit by a late blow as it went down to three riders after Madden pulled out on Wednesday morning because of an injury to her horse Cortes `C.We had a bit of a setback this morning not having Elizabeth, Ward said. We always put the horses first, so it was not correct to compete with him today.She has been our anchor for so long. It is a little unsettling when you lose her. But the team had to rally and it was a great performance.Germany beat Canada in a jump-off for bronze after both teams finished on a score of eight. Germany has won a medal in every equestrian competition in Rio de Janeiro.Home-team favorites Brazil finished fifth after all three riders still in the competition had a single rail down.Wednesdays competition also served as a third qualifier for Fridays individual medal round, in which all scores are wiped clear. ' ' '