The guys over at SBNation have asked me to participate in a series of running posts that they do, Around the AFC East. Each Friday, you’ll get a series of questions asked from each team’s blogger to another. If you are unfamiliar with SBNation’s AFC East sites, The Phinsider, Pats Pulpit and Buffalo Rumblings are all excellent intel for anyone who follows the AFC East Division.

TJB: Coming off a 7-9 season, the Bills are clearly headed in the right direction personnel-wise. Following up their season, the Bills made a number of good acquisitions in the off-season via draft and free agency. Which acquisition will turn out to be the biggest improvement to the team in 2008?

Buffalo Rumblings: Honestly, I think it’s going to be linebacker Kawika Mitchell. I think the Bills picked up two high-impact rookies in CB Leodis McKelvin and WR James Hardy, and clearly, DT Marcus Stroud is going to be the most closely-watched acquisition this year. There were other guys (DT Spencer Johnson, DE Chris Ellis) who should have an impact in situational roles as well.

But in terms of statistical production, I think Buffalo’s linebackers are ready to produce in a big way. The Bills’ starting three the vast majority of last season – Angelo Crowell, John DiGiorgio and Keith Ellison – were undersized as a group and physically overmatched. Their poor play against the run was as big a reason for the team’s run D woes as the poor DT play was. With the return of Paul Posluszny and the signing of Mitchell, however, the Bills are bigger, more physical and more active at the linebacker position.

Mitchell was a key signing not only because he’s going to be the first impact weak-side linebacker in Buffalo since Crowell played there (he slid to strong side after Takeo Spikes was traded), but because he gives the Bills versatility across the board at the position (he can play strong and middle linebacker as well). He also gives the Bills options when it comes to re-signing Crowell, a free agent after the ‘08 season.

TJB Thoughts: Losing Nate Clements held the Bills back in a big way last year, going from one of the best to worst secondaries in a year’s time. Adding Leodis McKelvin could be a big move for the Bills over the next few years. Paired with some beef up front, if the team can stay healthy, they could be a defense to look out for.

TJB: The Dolphins had the chance to take most any quarterback in this year’s draft. Do you think the fact that Chad Henne and Jake Long already had history played into the Dolphins decision to take him? Will that help the offense, even in year one?

Phinsider: The fact that they both had history together could have played a small part into the decision making. I also think the fact that new part owner Stephen Ross is a Michigan alum and big-time booster might have played a small part in it as well. However, when it comes right down to it, I don’t think any of these rather trivial facts could have that big of an impact on the decision making of guys like Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland.

As far as the year one impact, I don’t think you’ll see much of anything from Chad Henne. While Jake Long will be starting at left tackle from day one and a key contributor, Henne will likely be riding the bench as the team’s 3rd string quarterback. I don’t think this regime has any plans on rushing Henne along and will take their time with him and bring him along slowly. This will also allow the regime to get a better gauge on the kind of player John Beck might be now that he’ll have a little help around him.

One more note about Henne. Don’t automatically think that he’s the long-term answer at QB for the Dolphins. After all, if they were that high on Henne entering the draft, don’t you think they would have selected him at #32? Instead, they passed and took Phillip Merling and were lucky to land Henne at #57. I think if John Beck goes out and wins the starting job in camp and preseason, he’ll have every opportunity to become the team’s long-term solution at the QB spot.

TJB Thoughts: From what I’m reading, beat writers in South Florida think Henne will get his shot at some point this year. We’ll have to see how this plays out.

TJB: Although some pundits slighted the Patriots for “reaching” in the draft, I think they did very well. Mayo and Crable particularly will be excellent additions long-term, so where do they fit in the mix for the Patriots for the 2008 season and did most Patriots fans want Gholston at the seventh pick?

Pats Pulpit: I agree, the Patriots weren’t reaching; Belichick “promised” owner Bob Kraft we would get, “…younger and faster on defense.” The old guard, made up of Bruschi, Seau and Vrabel, will be showing their age soon. Mayo and Crable are young and one of our Colts bloggers worked up a great analysis pretty much proving it takes a couple of years to become proficient and productive in a Belichick defense. We run a very traditional 3-4 which, in my opinion, puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the 4 linebackers; they have to be super smart to keep track of the quarterback, assist the line and defend against the pass. To fill the gap, the Patriots acquired a number of free agent linebackers, namely former Jets LB Victor Hobson. I believe this strategy gives the rookies a chance to come up to an NFL level without stressing them out too much. They’re surrounded by some of the best defensive players in the biz; it’s a great learning environment and I’m sure they’ll have incredible second years.

Vernon Gholston would’ve been a nice acquisition. NE places less emphasis on the DE position and tends to rely on their OLB’s extensively. A huge, strong, fast DE, the Patriots had a private workout with Gholston and most likely would’ve moved him to OLB. Massive, strong and quick, our O line better keep him away from Brady.

TJB Thoughts: Bruschi was exposed in the 2007 playoffs by Dallas Clark, and the team has been trying to address the need since. After never drafting a LB in the first four rounds during Belichick’s tenure, they got two such players in this year’s draft. Crable and Mayo will be fearsome in this system with the line they have in front of them.

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