Undrafted Dockery, Smith seeking positions

By Nate Ulrich

Akron Beacon Journal

BEREA

Linebacker Brian Smith sprinted around the left side of the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line and smashed into quarterback Graham Harrell with enough force to knock the ball loose.

Text messages flooded Smith’s cell phone after his strip-sack created a touchdown and helped the Browns win their preseason opener last Saturday.

A few days later at practice, defensive back James Dockery forced an incomplete pass by suffocating wide receiver Chris Matthews with tight coverage.

Dockery scooped the ball off the ground, threw it toward Matthews and said, “This ain’t mine unless you want it to be.”

Dockery has often seized possession this summer by breaking up and intercepting passes.

Smith and Dockery, both of whom are undrafted rookies, entered training camp as long shots to make the team.

They have since demanded attention, and injuries allowed both to practice with the first-team defense on Wednesday.

More chances to shine await them on Friday, when the Browns host the Detroit Lions in both teams’ second preseason game.

“I have an opportunity, and I’m gonna do everything I can not to let the opportunity fall,” Smith said. “The coaches and the staff here with the Browns, they saw me and they felt like I have a chance to make this team.

“I feel like I owe it to them not to let them down.”

Dockery has similar feelings.

“Just because I didn’t get drafted, there was no time where it crept in my mind that I wasn’t a good football player,” Dockery said.

“I was just anxious to get out here and prove that I can play at this level.”

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Smith started 29 of the 47 games in which he appeared for the University of Notre Dame.

In college, he played in 3-4 and 4-3 defenses. He has been playing strongside linebacker in the Browns’ 4-3 scheme, serving as the replacement for projected starter Scott Fujita, who has been sidelined with a bruised thigh since Monday.

“Whenever we’ve had an opportunity to see him in pressure defenses, he’s got enough size that he’s a challenge for a back to block,” Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron said of Smith.

“He’s got enough skill that he can get on the edge of them, too, and use that.”

The 6-1, 185-pound Dockery has stood out as a cornerback since camp started.

But on Wednesday, he played free safety for the first-team defense while the projected starter, Usama Young, continued to sit out with a hamstring injury.