The Pittsburgh Steelers hired Brian Flores as their senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach in February. Since then, he's worked with the team and fits perfectly into the puzzle that is the Steelers' defense. Minkah Fitzpatrick discussed the positive impact that Flores has had on the team in just a few months, calling “Coach Flo” a necessity for the team.

He shared his opinion on the defensive coach at his press conference Thursday morning.

“He's a great coach, he's a smart guy. He's a guy that lives to a high standard and he's a piece that I think we really needed,” the Steelers safety said. “He's a detail-oriented coach. he's not a guy that's going to let things get brushed to the side. He's going to address them. He's direct.”

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This is great praise coming from any player, but even better coming from Fitzpatrick. The two-time Pro-Bowler is highly regarded as one of the main leaders on the Steelers defense, so much so that the team signed him to a four-year, $73.6 million contract extension. The massive deal made Fitzpatrick the highest-paid safety in NFL history.

It's no surprise that Flores is fitting in nicely in Pittsburgh, and even less of a surprise that he's taken a “direct” coaching approach. The coach spent the majority of his coaching career with the New England Patriots. In other words, he spent a decade with Bill Belichick, one of the toughest and most direct coaches in the league.