[organic help]

Hey everybody, i have a doozey of a question. 

Reaction is X* + RH --> HX + R*

X is flourine in this example.  The profs asks for the relative bond orders and locations of unpaired electrons, which i am good with.  But then, he says that the explaination of the mech should include discussion of late and early transition states.  I know that with F it is an early TS, so the BDE of the RH is not as big a factor, but i am stuck there.

Can someone help? thanks!