The Dallas Cowboys offense, led by quarterback Dak Prescott, does not appear to be afraid of expectations. The team is returning all 11 starters from one of the top offenses in the league last year. Prescott’s been saying the goal is to be the “Greatest Offense There Is,” or GOTI, and he wo re a Super Bowl XXX shirt when he arrived at training camp last month. Cowboys reporter Jon Machota, with The Athletic, said that’s what it should be after a decade on the job. “I mean, think he should feel that way. I mean, you’re an 11-year veteran NFL quarterback. Can’t think of many things that defense could show you that you haven’t seen. And then you get CeeDee Lamb on one side, George Pickens on the other, a really good run game. I mean, he’s got everything there. So I could see why he would be confident,” Machota said. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer returns for year two, trying to turn around a franchise-worst defense and get the team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2023. Machota said Schottenheimer seems similar to year one, but the Cowboys are dealing with fewer distractions. “I don’t know that I’ve seen a ton of change in Brian Schottenheimer. I just think that he’s been set up, probably mostly by Jerry Jones, on having less distractions. He doesn’t have to be concerned about being asked questions,” Machota said. “George Pickens signed the franchise tag; he was here on day one, full participant. I think that sets him up better, and then obviously the upgrades on defense.” The Cowboys have lots of roster decisions to make before the end of camp. The most intriguing battle remaining may be the backup running back position. Many expect second-year Texas back Jaydon Blue will step into the role after struggling to find playing time in his rookie season. The Cowboys want Blue more involved in the passing game. “They will give every opportunity for that to be Jaydon Blue. I mean, one, because they invested a draft pick in him last year, only ends up playing in five games. But two, he just is the perfect complement for what Javonte Williams does, being the pass catcher, what he can do in space. And then the bigger thing for me that I’ve noticed a little bit out here is it’s been a while since the screen game has worked for the Dallas Cowboys. You gotta go to like early Ezekiel Elliott days, and they’ve had some plays where they get Javonte the ball or Jaydon Blue the ball in space. You get a Tyler Smith out in front of him. I can see that potentially being some big plays there,” Machota said. Blue is competing with fellow second-year running back Phil Mafah and veteran Malik Davis. Davis finished second on the team in rushing with 250 yards and two touchdowns last season; Mafah only played in one game. Blue rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries against the New York Giants in Week 18 of last season. Cowboys Hall of Fame Owner/General Manager Jerry Jones previously mentioned the team is still considering making a trade to improve the defense. In the offseason, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby was the coveted prize. A trade with the Baltimore Ravens fell apart, and there’s been little news since about Crosby being traded. The Ravens did not specifically state why the trade fell through; sources told the Associated Press it was due to a failed physical. Crosby remains with the Raiders. Machota thinks the Cowboys are serious, but doubts they would pay a high price for the Colleyville Heritage product. “I believe him; I just think that they won’t overpay. They’re not going to overpay for Maxx Crosby. Where he’s at now in Raiders camp makes me think it’s a little bit less likely now that they’re going to make a move with him. But if there is a move to be made, the Cowboys, just like they were earlier this year, will be one of the top teams involved. If not, that’s when I think potentially like a Von Miller, a free agent who is older, doesn’t really care about being part of a training camp; he’ll probably be able to hit the ground running without one. I think that’s where maybe he gets into play, but I do not think that they’re done on defense,” Machota said. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less