I can't remember which former player talked about it, maybe Andrew George, but one of them was on Sportsnation talking about how football is won by winning the individual battles. If more of your 11 guys win their individual battle against the other teams 11 guys and a particular play, you win the play. Extend that over a game, you win the game.
Football is won primarily in the off season. It's recruiting. If you get the best players, the scheme is cosmetic. If your players can mostly beat their players, you're going to win most of the time.