Michigan uses bye week to improve, practice younger players

ANN ARBOR -- The bye means improvement for Michigan, a football team riding a wave of momentum on the field right now.

The fifth-ranked Wolverines have won seven straight games since their season-opening loss at Notre Dame, the latest a 21-7 victory over No. 24 Michigan State in East Lansing.

Players will partake in a pared down practice schedule this week, an opportunity to heal any bumps and bruises and recharge the batteries ahead of the final four-game stretch of the regular season.

"We call it an improvement week, and we'll set out to do that," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. "We still got a long way to go. A lot of big games ahead. I also want to practice some of our younger players --…