What to know about this year's Dallas Cowboys as training camp starts in California

Dallas Cowboys training camp starts this week, giving fans a chance to see the team get ready for the season.

Why it matters: Hopes are high, as usual , for the Cowboys to win a Super Bowl.

• It has been a wild year in Dallas sports, with the Mavs going to the NBA Finals , the Stars going deep into the playoffs , and, of course, the Texas Rangers winning the World Series . Now the Cowboys have a chance to keep up the trend.

Driving the news: The season-opening news conference planned for Wednesday was moved to Saturday because Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was in Texarkana this week for a trial involving a woman's claims he's her father , which ended abruptly Tuesday .

• While the majority of NFL teams practice closer to home, the Cowboys arrived in Oxnard for camp Tuesday. The California town has become a second home away from the Texas heat.

State of play: Dallas had the top-scoring offense in the NFL and one of the best defenses last year, ending the regular season with a 12-5 record.

Yes, but: They were upset in the playoffs by the Green Bay Packers.

Zoom in: Running back Ezekiel Elliott is returning to the Cowboys on a one-year contract . He was a powerhouse during his first years with the Cowboys but hasn't maintained his rookie glory.

• Running back Tony Pollard left the team for the Tennessee Titans , leaving Dallas without a clear starter. Elliott will fill the role in some combination with other running backs on the team.
• Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer will take on the defensive coordinator role after Dan Quinn left in March to become the head coach in Washington .

Between the lines: Despite last year's hopeful regular season, betting odds put the Cowboys behind the Philadelphia Eagles as the likely NFC East Division winner .

• A favorite among sports bettors, Dallas was the most bet-on NFL team last season to fall short of its projected win total, per SI .

What's next: Fans can attend practice for free in Oxnard starting Thursday through Aug. 21. The Cowboys host an opening weekend ceremony Saturday morning.

• The Cowboys' first at-home preseason game is at 3pm Aug. 24 against the Los Angeles Chargers.