Robert Saleh expects Jeff Ulbrich’s passion and coaching style to mesh well with his own.

New York’s head coach praised his defensive coordinator on Friday, particularly for his approach to coaching. Based on Saleh’s review, it sounds like the two defensive minds have a lot in common.

“Jeff was a former player and he knows how much work needs to be put in and he knows how much work goes into just one play. So when those plays are successful, that’s what you see,” Saleh said. “He’s pure energy. He’s real. He’s a real guy’s guy. And it’s awesome that he’s here.”

Ulbrich’s prior experiences as a player and a coach will be pivotal to his success in New York, according to Saleh. Ulbrich played linebacker for 10 years with the 49ers, coached with Saleh under Pete Carroll in Seattle and spent the past six years in Atlanta with Dan Quinn before taking over as defensive coordinator for the second half of the 2020 season.

“He’s got some recall and he has a lot of great thoughts and lot of great information and a lot of great scheme that he can bring,” Saleh added.

That scheme Saleh mentioned will be a mix of the 49ers’ defense from Saleh’s time there, along with Ulbrich’s defense from the Falcons. Both have major connections to the Seahawks considering they worked there early in their coaching careers.

“It’s going to be a good marriage in terms of not only philosophy but the scheme,” Saleh said.