COSTA MESA, Calif. -- With the Buffalo Bills announcing this week that rookie Nathan Peterman will replace Tyrod Taylor as the team's starting quarterback, the Los Angeles Chargers had to do some scrambling to find an impromptu scouting report.
So who better to ask than someone who played against him in college?
That someone for the Chargers is rookie cornerback Desmond King, who intercepted Peterman twice in Iowa's win against Pittsburgh two years ago.
The contest was King's first multi-interception game of his college career for the Hawkeyes, where he finished with 14 picks.
"He's a very accurate quarterback," King said about Peterman. "When I played him, I thought he was very good with his feet as well by extending the play, not a dual threat but extending the play with his feet and just making the passes down the field."
Peterman finished 20 of 29 for 219 passing yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 27-24 loss to Iowa.
Along with King, safety Rayshawn Jenkins out of the University of Miami and Notre Dame products James Onwualu and Isaac Rochell also played against Peterman in college, so other Chargers have been picking those rookies' brains for more information about Buffalo's young signal-caller.
One of the reasons the Chargers are doing that is because of the limited film they have to study on Peterman, who played two series last week in a 47-10 loss against the New Orleans Saints, finishing 7 of 10 for 79 yards and a touchdown.
The Chargers also can watch video of Peterman from preseason play, when he completed 43 of 79 passes (54.4 percent) for 453 passing yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Peterman was sacked four times, posting a 75.6 passer rating.
"These guys have already been helping us out, talking to us a little bit about what they saw in college," Chargers outside linebacker Kyle Emanuel said. "People change from college to the NFL, but any little thing can help, especially with a guy you haven't seen much of.
"I think you still have to be prepared for the possibility of Tyrod going in. We don't know their mindset going into it. If this new guy struggles a little bit, are they going to bring [Taylor] back in? So we need to be prepared for both. I don't think it will change too much, but obviously we're thinking a little less quarterback run."
At 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, Peterman was selected in the fifth round of this year's draft. One of the things Bills head coach Sean McDermott said he likes about Peterson is his confidence.
"He's a young man that as a rookie is very mature," McDermott said. "And he's worked very hard since the day he came in the door, like he did in college. And so he's progressed every day in OTAs and in training camp, all the way through the season and in the small sample size of game experience he had the other night."
McDermott said the offense will not change with Peterman taking over for Taylor.
"Having some tough skin as a quarterback is necessary," Peterman told reporters at the NFL scouting combine in February. "Nothing is going to faze your confidence. Nothing has for me. That's one of the ultimate attributes and traits a quarterback needs."
Looking for a young developmental prospect in this year's draft, Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt attended Peterman's pro day at Pittsburgh in March before the draft.
Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said the Chargers will not take Peterman lightly in his first career start. And like Emanuel, Lynn said his defense will be prepared for the possibility of seeing Taylor on Sunday.
Lynn is very familiar with Taylor, having served as Buffalo's offensive coordinator last season.
"They made the decision to bench Tyrod, so if they go with the other guy, I'm pretty sure they're doing the best thing for their team," Lynn said. "But we're still looking at it like, if he (Taylor) suits up, we have to be ready for him. Because if he comes in in the second half -- if the other guy struggles and he comes in -- we've got to be ready. He can present a lot of problems for a defense."