CHARLOTTE http://www.newyorkjetsteamonline.com/jachai-polite-jersey , N.C. (AP) — when he took over defensive play-calling duties midway through last season: You can’t afford to be predictable in today’s NFL.That’s why Rivera is mixing in a three-man defensive front — along with a few other surprises — to go along with the base 4-3 defensive scheme the Panthers have used the last eight seasons.“The biggest thing is that we are playing so many multiple style offenses that you just can’t line up and let them attack you,” said Rivera, who previously spent six seasons as a defensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers.That’s one reason Carolina drafted Brian Burns in the first round and Christian Miller in the fourth and signed free agent Bruce Irvin, speed edge rushers who have the flexibility to drop into coverage.The Panthers have regularly been a top 10 defense, which led to them losing defensive coordinators Sean McDermott and Steve Wilks to head coaching jobs elsewhere. Last year Carolina promoted Eric Washington as its third defensive coordinator in three seasons, but when things began to fall apart on that side of the ball Rivera stepped in to assume play-calling duties.“In the middle of the year I started doing some different things, and I saw that every time we did some of those things positive things happened,” Rivera said.That included disguising blitzes, dropping defensive linemen into coverage and mixing up defensive fronts, among other tweaks.The problem was the Panthers didn’t have the personnel to do all of the things Rivera wanted to do, which is why general manager Marty Hurney sought out adding versatile edge rushers.Burns, in particular, is viewed as an integral part of the team’s future in this new more diverse defensive scheme.“It makes the defense more versatile and I come from a school that did it all of the time,” said Burns, who played at Florida State. “We played a 4-3, a 3-4 and a whole bunch of other packages, so I’m used to rushing the passer and dropping” into coverage.He’s also familiar with the lingo involved Chuma Edoga Jersey , which should allow him to play more freely and without overthinking things.“Just being able to do both, no offense can really scheme me or know when I am coming at any particularly play,” Burns said. “I can disguise as if I’m dropping and really come off the edge and that can free up me or other people.”When the Panthers go to a 3-4 front look for two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short to slide out to defensive end.The Panthers are hoping to land free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy to play inside alongside Short in their base four-man front. McCoy was cut by Tampa Bay in a salary cap move last month and is deciding between Baltimore, Cleveland and Carolina.The Panthers visited with McCoy last week and Rivera said the meeting went very well. He thinks the Panthers have a “good chance” of signing him, but added that other teams probably feel the same way.“He’s a guy we would love to have here to be a part of what we’re doing,” Rivera said. “He’s going through the process so we are waiting to see what the outcome is going to be.”The Panthers are still in the early stages of installing their new defensive looks, but Rivera has been pleased by the team’s retention.Now, he said, it’s a matter of time to see how much of what the team is installing can be effectively used this season.“It’s neat to see the things you are capable of doing, but we won’t know (how much) until we get into the preseason or regular season,” Rivera said.NOTES: Cam Newton did not throw a football during Monday’s practice, which was open to the media. However, Rivera said Newton did throw some last week during closed practice sessions. Those are the QB’s first throws since undergoing arthroscopic surgery in January in his right shoulder. He is expected to be ready to practice when training camp arrives. Sam Darnold‘s first snap for the New York Jets on Monday night will be one for the record books.The rookie will become the youngest quarterback to start a season opener in the Super Bowl era — since the 1966 season — at 21 years and 97 days old at kickoff against the Lions in Detroit.Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick, beat out incumbent Josh McCown and the since-traded Teddy Bridgewater for the Jets’ starting job with a solid summer and preseason.“We are trying to help the team win and we feel like he gives us a good chance to win,” coach Todd Bowles said. “We’re not starting him because he’s a rookie and he’s not ready. We’re starting him because he gives us a chance to win the game.”Darnold will also be the first rookie quarterback to start a season opener on “Monday Night Football.” The former USC star is used to the spotlight and playing in big games, but even the coolest of California kids might feel a little case of the nerves before this prime-time debut.“I’m just going about the week like how I normally would http://www.newyorkjetsteamonline.com/trevon-wesco-jersey , so just going about it that way,” Darnold said. “I think toward the game I might get a little nervous. I guess we’ll see.”The Jets have had just two rookie quarterbacks open a season under center: Mark Sanchez (2009) and Geno Smith (2013). Nope, not even Joe Namath did what Darnold is about to accomplish. Broadway Joe was Mike Taliaferro’s backup for New York’s season opener in 1965 before starting the next three games.Oh, and both Sanchez and Smith won in their debuts, so Darnold could make it 3-0 for Jets rookie starting QBs.But he also has a bit of history against him.Here’s a look at how the previous youngest quarterbacks to start a season opener in the Super Bowl era fared in their first NFL games:DREW BLEDSOE, New England Patriots, Sept. 5, 1993 (21 years, 203 days)Loss: Buffalo 38, New England 14After being the No. 1 overall pick, Bledsoe started right away for the Patriots — and had a rough debut at Buffalo. He went 14 of 30 for 148 yards and two touchdowns with an interception and was sacked three times while losing to Jim Kelly and the Bills.Bledsoe started 12 games as a rookie for Bill Parcells’ Patriots, going 5-7 and finishing with 15 TDs and 15 INTs. He soon carved out a terrific career for himself and was selected to four Pro Bowls. A serious chest injury in the second game of the 2001 season against the Jets gave Tom Brady a chance to play — and the rest is, well, NFL history.MATTHEW STAFFORD, Detroit Lions, Sept. 13, 2009 (21 years Alexander Mattison Jersey , 219 days)Loss: New Orleans 45, Detroit 27Stafford beat out veteran Daunte Culpepper for the starting job in training camp and was under center for the season opener at New Orleans.Stafford went 16 of 37 for 205 yards and was intercepted three times, including twice by Darren Sharper, in the blowout loss. He ran for a touchdown, though.The No. 1 overall pick that year had much better days to come.Stafford is the fastest player to reach 3,000 completions and last year joined Brett Favre, Dan Marino and Peyton Manning as the only QBs to reach 200 career TD passes before the age of 30.JAMEIS WINSTON, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sept. 13, 2015 (21 years, 250 days)Loss: Tennessee 42, Tampa Bay 14Winston was the top pick in the draft that year and had a solid summer to win the starting job. He got off to a bad start in front of the home crowd, though, as his first pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Coty Sensabaugh. It marked the first time a rookie’s first throw was returned for a TD since Brett Favre — then with Atlanta — in 1991.Winston was 16 of 33 for 210 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions, along with four sacks. He was outplayed by fellow rookie Marcus Mariota, the second overall selection that year, who threw four TD passes.DeSHONE KIZER http://www.minnesotavikingsteamonline.com/dru-samia-jersey , Cleveland Browns, Sept. 10, 2017 (21 years, 250 days)Loss: Pittsburgh 21, Cleveland 18Kizer was a second-round pick out of Notre Dame and beat out the likes of Brock Osweiler, Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan to start the game at home.He also nearly helped pull off an opening day upset , going 20 of 30 for 222 yards with a TD and an interception while also running for a 1-yard score that capped an impressive 12-play drive.But Kizer was benched a few times during the Browns’ 0-16 season and traded to Green Bay in the offseason.GREG LANDRY, Detroit, Sept. 15, 1968 (21 years, 272 days)Loss: Dallas 59, Detroit 13Landry was a first-round pick of the Lions out of UMass and started the season opener — and it wasn’t good. He threw four interceptions, including one returned 35 yards for a TD by Chuck Howley, in the rout.He finished 15 of 31 for 231 yards and had two touchdown tosses, but was benched in favor of Bill Munson in Week 2. Landry started one more game as a rookie — a 12-0 loss to Philadelphia — before becoming mostly a solid backup and spot starter for Detroit through 1978. He also played for Baltimore and Chicago, as well as two years in the USFL.___