Storrs — Spring football practice finished up about two weeks ago, but the work never ends for the UConn football coaching staff.

Nearly every minute of every day is filled on head coach Randy Edsall's busy and detailed schedule. Assistant coaches are scattered around the country on the recruiting trail this week.

On Wednesday morning, Edsall blocked out some extended time to talk about the state of his program coming out of spring workouts and looking ahead to August when the Huskies begin summer camp in preparation for their season opener against Central Florida on Aug. 30 in East Hartford.

"I was pleased," Edsall said. "I thought the work ethic, the effort, the intensity was pretty good. We were able to accomplish the things that we wanted to. We're nowhere near where we want to be from a finished product standpoint.

"But we are better. That's the big thing."

Edsall covered a wide range of topics during a nearly two-hour conversation with a small group of beat reporters.

Here's some highlights:

• UConn is adding graduate transfer Ryan Fines, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive end from Bradenton, Fla., to the roster.

Fines, who'll graduate in May from Miami, will have two years of eligibility left. He appeared in five career games for the Hurricanes, including two games last season, registering a sack and a fumble recovery in 2017.

He's expected to make an immediate impact at a position that lacks quality depth and experience. He graduates May 11 and will be in Storrs this summer.

"It helps getting Ryan Fines," Edsall said. "He's a thick guy, a strong guy, an effort guy, and run-through-the-wall and go-to-the-whistle-type guy. He'll bring some leadership and maturity to that position for us."

Edsall is considering trying to bring in another graduate transfer on defense.

• Jordan Swann, a defensive back from Baltimore, has informed the UConn coaching staff that he won't return next season. He plans to transfer somewhere closer to home. Last season, he played in 10 games, finishing with 15 tackles and an interception.

• Perhaps the most interesting thing that Edsall had to say on Wednesday dealt with his offensive line, which improved during the spring.

"I think this could be the best offensive line that we've had here, even when I was here before," Edsall said.

Edsall added the key will be the center position. Veteran Ryan Crozier is working his way back from an injury.

Brian Cespedes of New London is a contender for extended playing time at offensive guard. He was a starter for the spring game.

"I thought he really came along this spring," Edsall said. "He's got a chance, if he really works, to do some really good things."

• Each player met with his position coach and then with Edsall before heading into the break. They discussed strengths, weaknesses and areas of improvement from the beginning of spring until the end of workouts.

They appear to be on the same wave length.

"The thing that was neat for me, pretty much every guy said exactly what their coaches told them," Edsall said. "So obviously they listened. To me, that's a step in the right direction because then they get it and understand it."

• David Pindell entered spring practice as the No. 1 quarterback and ended with a firm grip on the starting role. He has a better understanding of the offense.

Edsall saw a different, more confident Pindell emerge.

"David is the guy," Edsall said. "I thought he got better. He's starting to open up a little bit more, starting to be more comfortable talking and being a leader and taking charge. Probably not to the extent that I want, but better."

There's no clear backup right now. Brandon Bisack and Marvin Washington are the main contenders.

• Expect some fierce competition for playing time during summer camp when the incoming freshmen arrive. The newcomers will be on campus on June 10.

"All these freshmen coming in, they need to be ready to go because they're going to be able to help us either compete for playing time or be backups," Edsall said. "We're not ruling any of those guys out. They'll have the opportunity."

• UConn has 78 scholarships filled right now and its limit is 83, down two from the typical amount due to a mistake by the school's compliance department.

"It hurts us from the standpoint that I can't go reward two guys," Edsall said.

Edsall is planning to give scholarships to some walk-ons. Right now, he has 21 walk-ons on the roster.

• The players will receive a workout program to take home with them in May. They'll return to campus at the end of that month. They will lift and run two hours a day, four days a week in Storrs.

"We can't be involved with them," Edsall said of the coaches. "It falls all on the strength staff and the players to make sure that they're doing that stuff. That's when your leadership takes over."

• Edsall on the offense and defense:

"Offensively, they picked things up. Talking to the guys, they like what we're doing offensively. They thought there was more rhyme or reason to what we were doing and being able to pick it up. That was good."

"One of the biggest things we did this spring defensively is we got guys in the positions that we feel they belong. I think that's half the battle sometimes is getting guys in the right position so they can be successful based on their skill set and based on what we're doing."

g.keefe@theday.com