Fri 2/22/13 9:25 AM

Coach Ron Rivera expects the zone read to be "more of a wrinkle than a staple" in the Panthers' 2013 offense. "We have it as a mixer," Rivera said Thursday. "We have it just enough that coordinators have to pay attention to what we do. I think off of it, we can do so many different things." Both Rivera and new GM Dave Gettleman believe Cam Newton was far more effective last season after the Panthers de-emphasized the read option and went with a more traditional approach. "I think a read option is an option," Gettleman said. "But at the end of the day your quarterback has to make plays from the pocket. And if he can't, you're going to struggle."