Entering his 11th season, Dak Prescott is extremely aware of the expectations surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. He’s been on four teams that have won at least 12 games during the regular season. None have gotten beyond the divisional round of the playoffs.The deep postseason run has eluded him and the franchise.Just making the playoffs would be a big step for the Cowboys after winning only seven games each of the last two seasons.Prescott, however, embraces Super Bowl-or-bust expectations.“That’s always been my mindset,” he said. “That’s one thing I truly love about the Cowboys organization and the fan base is that it’s that or nothing. That’s what being a competitor is. If that’s not how you’re wired or if that’s not how you think, whether you’re a fan, whether you’re a player, whether you’re a coach, then I think you’re in the wrong business. And honestly, I don’t want you on my team. I love those expectations.”What version of George Pickens will Dallas Cowboys get in 2026?Robert MaysAnd he “absolutely” believes they are more realistic this season.Why?Because of the upgrades made to what was arguably the worst defense in franchise history. That began with hiring first-time defensive coordinator Christian Parker and continued with the veteran additions of outside linebacker Rashan Gary, safety Jalen Thompson, cornerback Cobie Durant and linebacker Dee Winters. They then used first-round picks on do-everything defensive back Caleb Downs and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence.Dallas also returns almost all of last year’s offense that was one of the NFL’s best.Beginning this week, the Cowboys will start to see if they’ve done enough to get back into the playoff mix, and perhaps make that deep playoff run that has been missing for the last 30 years.The Cowboys travel to Southern California on Monday to begin four weeks of training camp practices in Oxnard. To get you ready, here are the five biggest topics entering camp.1. How much improvement was made on defense?There were no fully-padded practices or tackling in organized team activities or minicamp. That changes in training camp. What will Parker’s new defense look like, moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4 base? They will have their hands full with a very talented offense.“They’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Prescott said a month ago. “You can just tell by the way they’re communicating, whether it’s in walk-throughs, whether it’s there at practice, 7-on-7, guys are taking ownership of what they’re being asked. We’ve got great energy from not only (Parker), but the rest of the coaches. It’ll be a battle. They’ve already gotten us on some of these days in OTAs and the rush isn’t even there. Once you let Quinnen (Williams) and Gary and Kenny (Clark) and all those guys take off and put pressure on me, I’m sure it’s going to be tougher.“But it’s iron sharpens iron. And super, super excited about it. A couple of those guys have already warned me that it won’t be as easy as last year or as I’ve had in the past. Even that trash-talking or fire-starting is awesome.”2. Will Caleb Downs look like a rookie?The expectations haven’t been this high for a rookie Dallas defender since at least Micah Parsons in 2021, and it might even go back to Morris Claiborne in 2012 or DeMarcus Ware in 2005.Downs is expected to make an immediate impact at the nickel cornerback position and safety. He could be near the line of scrimmage, possibly blitzing, on one play and back deep on the next. However he’s utilized, any play the No. 11 pick makes will only feed the hype.“He’s as advertised,” Parker said last month. “We spent significant time with him before the draft process, so we had a good feel on who he was and knew some people at Ohio State, at Alabama, in terms of how he was on the day to day that we maybe didn’t see in that 30-visit or at the combine.“He’s been doing great. He’s a worker. He looks for coaching. He craves that. He wants to be corrected. He wants more information. And he works as hard as he can with the extras and everything else. So it’s been good. He’s been good to work with, and I think that he’s trying to advance at the right rate.”The Cowboys have high expectations for defensive back Caleb Downs, their top pick in the 2026 draft. (Chris Jones / Imagn Images)3. Can Tyler Guyton lock up the left tackle spot?The Cowboys want Guyton to be their starting left tackle. That’s why they used a first-round pick on him two years ago. However, he has underwhelmed, leading to a competition with swing tackle Nate Thomas. If neither can handle starting responsibilities, Dallas could turn to moving All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith out to left tackle. Everyone involved would like to avoid that move, one that would weaken an interior that should be a significant team strength.“I got to come to work every day and get better,” Guyton said. “There’s obviously competition everywhere on the team. It’s a football team and everyone wants to play, so friendly competition isn’t bad. It brings the best out of people.”Guyton called his first two seasons a “learning experience.” He has spent the offseason improving his overall strength.“Coming into the league I had a lot to learn,” he said. “I feel like I’ve learned. I’ve gotten stronger. I’ve gotten better at football. I’m learning more techniques and things like that, so it’s just a learning process. I’m going to continue to try to advance during this (upcoming) season.”4. Can the offense take another step?If the defense can be at least respectable, this should be a playoff team. Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Javonte Williams, Jake Ferguson, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin and Brevyn Spann-Ford are more than enough weapons to put up 28-30 points per game. Is there a way they could be even better than last year’s group that averaged 27.7 points per game?An important piece could be Jaydon Blue. Dallas drafted the former Texas running back in the fifth round last year. While his skill set is the perfect complement to Williams, Blue didn’t come close to having the expected impact, playing in only five games. The Cowboys didn’t do anything in the offseason to upgrade the position, hoping that Year 2 will be a breakout season for Blue.“I didn’t start off like I should have,” Blue said. “Maybe if it was not practicing the right way or just on a maturity level, I think I wasn’t really there. But just learning from all the vets, having the offseason that I’ve had, I think I’m ready to go.“Just looking back on the things I didn’t do too well and some of the reasons I wasn’t on the field last year, taking the stuff my coaches were saying and making sure I apply them, whether that’s this offseason or when I’m by myself. … I think I made a 180 from where I was last year. I think I’ve gotten a lot better, whether that’s the football part, the physical part, my body, I feel really good. I’m just ready to go.”5. Will off-the-field things remain quiet?That’s usually a lot to ask for from the Cowboys. However, they have had a very under-the-radar offseason, starting with Pickens signing the franchise tag and showing up to minicamp. Last year, the biggest storyline entering camp was Parsons’ contract situation. Dallas currently doesn’t have any of that drama lingering. Can it stay that way? Could training camp 2026 be all about what is happening on the field?“Obviously we’re used to it,” Prescott said in June of the offseason drama. “So, it wouldn’t be absurd to have it. But it is good that we won’t have that this year. George is going to be there. I wish he would get the long-term contract, but I’m sure that’s all being talked about and discussed behind closed doors. And it (doesn’t) necessarily (have) to happen immediately. Hopefully these are the last of those questions and we can get him on some long-term (contract) whenever it’s right.“I just think the focus is in the right place.”