I wasn't able to catch the last game, but if what others are saying is true and they're running zone read like Oregon does, it's meant to be simple. It's predictable based on the line up (inside zone read RB is to the side and slightly deeper .... outside zone read RB is directly to the side of the QB). How well it works is based upon how well the defense plays their assignments. That and speed. You can run the inside/outside zone read out of all different formations, but it's still the same concept of reading the DE. The Panthers tweaked it a little by pulling an interior lineman and reading the DT instead, but again, still the same concept.
That said, anytime you use your QB as an option in the run game, he's always in danger of getting killed.
Fishduck.com has some good explanation of how the zone read is run. Great stuff - if you're into the Xs and Os. Here's some links. Sorry, not good with the html.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekf3RGWwqMQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69NBg_ZDixE