Coach Mike Nolan certainly likes fullback Zak Keasey, the overachieving converted linebacker from Princeton. Even when the topic is not about Keasey, Nolan manages to find a way to talk about him. Heck, it's as if Nolan considers Keasey the anti-Kevan Barlow.

The other day, I was asking Nolan about Taylor Jacobs, and Nolan supplied a zinger. While giving Frank Gore and Keasey some major props, he also took a nice shot at the former 49ers running back.

"I don't want a talented guy just because he's talented," Nolan said. "Frank's really talented and he wants to play. Kevan Barlow has some talent, but he's just -- get him out of here. And you have guys like Zak Keasey, who just has a heart of gold. The son of a gun just might make it because he's tough as nails."

The 49ers traded Barlow to the Jets about a year ago for a fourth-round pick. Barlow then had some unflattering things to say about Nolan, including a comparison to Hitler. (Barlow later apologized for those comments he made to Bay Area reporter Cam Inman.)

The 49ers eventually traded that pick to the Seahawks for receiver Darrell Jackson. So, it turns out, it was a Barlow-for-Jackson trade. The Jets ended up cutting Barlow after the season. He is in camp this summer with the Steelers.

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Four NFL officials arrived Thursday and will leave following the scrimmage on Saturday. Today, Craig Wrolstad and Buddy Horton, both field judges, met with the media to watch the NFL-produced DVD on rules changes and answer some questions.

NFL officials visit every NFL training camp. It helps the officials get ready for the season, and it also gives them a chance to answer questions from the players and coaches.

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Nolan would like for the NFL's Competition Committee to eventually change the pass-interference rule to allow the officials interpretation on the severity of the penalty. In other words, all 45-yard penalties are not created equal.

"Generally, I just think that the penalty doesn't match the crime," Nolan said. "It's a game-changing call. If it's not legit, it can change the whole game."

Said Wrolstad, "I think there's some validity to that. We go by what the Competition Committee deems is valid. If he (Nolan) can convince enough people, then the rule could be changed."

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Here are some notes from the morning practice:

--NT Aubrayo Franklin saw some action in practice after leaving early on Thursday with a left elbow strain.

--RB Michael Robinson is back at practice after going to the hospital earlier this week after suffering from dehydration.

--TE Delanie Walker began overheating and spent some time in the cold tub. He might not practice in the afternoon.

--WR Arnaz Battle held out of third day in a row with a sore left knee. DE Bryant Young (back) was also held out as a precaution.

--OLB Tully Banta-Cain appears very active in practice. He broke through the left side to bat down an Alex Smith pass on an 11-on-11 drill on one play. He always seems to be going 100 mph.

--DE Ray McDonald got good push inside against Justin Smiley, driving the guard back into Smith for a sack.

--Backup QB Trent Dilfer did not throw the interception, but he joined in the pursuit of the defender with the ball - as has become a team tradition. (After an interception, even the offensive players not on the field will run after the defensive player with the ball.) CB Donald Strickland made the interception of Smith, and then tossed a lateral to S Michael Lewis. When Lewis cut back, Dilfer tried to change directions and fell to the ground.

For the next minute, all that could be heard on the practice field was the uproarious laughter of Nate Clements. He saw Dilfer fall, and he clearly thought it was one of the funniest things he saw. (And, yes, it was pretty funny.) Clements fell to his knees and started pounding the ground with his fists while his loud chortle filled the air.

--In a red-zone session, Smith tried to beat Brandon Moore to the pylon on a scramble. They both arrived at the spot at about the same time. There was probably a little more contact than the team is comfortable seeing with Smith in practice. He went down, but got up quickly.

--WR Brandon Williams had a very good morning practice. He caught several deep-outs, and got inside Marcus Hudson on a post pattern for a touchdown on the final play of the morning session.

--Williams and Jacobs handled all the punts flawlessly. Nolan acknowledged that the final receiver spot might be determined by special-teams play. If that's the case with a Williams vs. Jacobs competition, just remember that Williams has a much deeper background than Jacobs when it comes to catching punts.

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On Saturday, the 49ers will have a live scrimmage, beginning at 3 p.m. The first-team offense will go against the second-team defense for about a dozen plays. Then the No. 2 offense will go against the No. 1 defense. Then the third-teamers will face each other. There will be some special teams thrown in there, and then the squads will repeat against each other.

When asked why the first teams don't go against each other, Nolan said, "You want your ones to win all the time."

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The 49ers have tried to find out through the NFL Network when the segment on the team will run. The think it is supposed to air Monday, but nobody at the network has confirmed that with the team.

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By the way, thanks to everyone who has passed along their best wishes to my father. He was released from the hospital earlier this week after heart surgery. He is home and doing well.

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