You should never apologize for a win. "They don't count pretty on the scoreboard," as Jim Harbaugh once said, but Michigan's win over Purdue was close, too close.
The five-point lead was too close for comfort. It's one thing if Michigan football loses to Ohio State in the final game of the regular season. It's another to have the season essentially be over, from a playoff perspective, before that game even happens.
A loss to Purdue would have made that a reality. Yet, the Wolverines responded with a big-time drive when needed to run out the final six minutes of game clock. They didn't pass once.
Jordan Marshall had 210 total yards (185 rushing), and as Sherrone Moore pointed out, all of Michigan's goals are ahead of it.
With that in mind, here are five observations from a 21-16 win over Purdue.
Jordan Marshall was legendary
After the game, Marshall gave all the credit to the offensive line. But truth be told, the second-year running back saved Michigan's bacon. Maybe down the road, we'll say that he saved Michigan's season.
After missing some cuts earlier this season, Marshall made the right read as he housed a 54-yard touchdown to open the scoring. There wasn't anything special about his second touchdown, but the third was sheer will.
With Michigan leading 14-10, on second-and-goal from the nine, Marshall ran into a group of Purdue defenders and just dragged them into the end zone.
It saved Michigan having to pick up a third-and-goal. It looked like he was going to be stopped five yards short. That play might have been the difference between a win and a loss, just like his 210 total yards.
Justice Haynes is elite but there are two RB1's in Ann Arbor.
Bryce Underwood looked like a freshman
There's no way to sugarcoat it, Underwood was off. The final numbers aren't as bad as some are acting like. He was 13 of 22 for 145 yards plus 44 rushing. He threw an interception and fumbled another ball out of the end zone.
That's tough to swallow because both plays cost Michigan points and essentially kept Purdue in the game. Making matters worse, Underwood missed some reads and some throws that could have gone for touchdowns.
That's going to happen. He's a freshman. This was his first multi-turnover game. It feels like the bye week is coming at a good time. Underwood is expected to do a lot. He could have played better. He needs to down the stretch, if Michigan wants to reach its goals.
QB development isn't linear. And this one game isn't someting to worry about.
The offensive line can road grade
Good teams can run the football when they have to. Jim Harbaugh talked about how the best teams, like Georgia, can run the ball, even when the other team knows it's coming.
That's essentially how Michigan won the national title. It could do that to others, but they couldn't do that to the Wolverines.
The nine-play drive to milk the final six minutes off the clock, holding a narrow lead, was big-time. Blake Frazier needs work in pass protection. That's true across the board, but this offensive line has three redshirt freshman.
When you think about the development of Frazier, Jake Guarnera, and Andrew Sprague, it's exciting. Nathan Efobi is another starting-caliber player. Don't forget about Evan Link, Andrew Babalola or Ty Haywood.
The offensive line is in great shape. That was a concern earlier this season, but despite some ups and downs, the Wolverines have rushed for at least 175 yards in all five Big Ten wins.
Injuries are out of control
It's the nature of the beast; however, injuries continue to hold back the Wolverines. Cole Sullivan, Jimmy Rolder, and Jaishawn Barham were all out after Barham joined the others on the sideline after a first-quarter injury.
In addition to three of its top four linebackers, Michigan was without Justice Haynes, the leading rusher in the Big Ten coming into Week 10, starting tackle Evan Link, and to make matters worse, Donaven McCulley, one of the best wideouts on the roster, also left the game and didn't return.
Sherrone Moore wasn't lying when he said that the bye week was coming at a "good time." Haynes was seen in a walking boot, making his status in question for the rest of the season, including the Ohio State game.
It was already going to be difficult to win out. Yet, without some of those guys returning to the lineup, it might be damn-near impossible. We'll see how things go over the bye week. This team has been hit hard, though.
It's getting more and more difficult. The depth has held up so far. Can that continue?
Special teams are a disaster
One of the common themes for Michigan this season has been lackluster special teams. Semaj Morgan continues to be ineffective as a punt returner, which is being nice.
On one return opportunity, Morgan cost Michigan a good 30 yards because he misjudged the punt. It would be one thing if it happened every once in a while. It's almost every time.
Purdue got a hand on a Michigan punt at least once. It felt like there was a block on multiple punts. That kind of thing can't keep happening. Michigan lost a ton of hidden yards, and the offense can't overcome that.
Whether it was Morgan, the kicking game, or even some ill-advised kickoff returns, the special teams were a disaster. They aren't sharp like they were under Jim Harbaugh when it always felt like Michigan had the advantage over opponents in the kicking game.
Jay Harbaugh, an elite special teams coach is in the NFL, just like Jim. His replacement, JB Brown has been a disappointment. That needs to be corrected this offseason, and hopefully, it doesn't cost Michigan football a game down the stretch like it could have Saturday if one of those partial blocks has turned out a little differently.