FRISCO, Texas – The goal coming into the season for the Dallas Cowboys' defense was to create 40 takeaways.

Never mind that no team has reached that figure since 2012 when the Chicago Bears (44) and New England Patriots (41); the Cowboys were aiming high.

Through five games, they have three takeaways, putting them on pace for 10 on the season.

“The biggest thing we want to do is just keep focusing on what we need to do to get those takeaways and how we can coach it better, how we can execute it better,” coach Jason Garrett said. “We focus on that each and every day, and obviously takeaways are a big part of being a successful defense. We’ve done a good job of that in the past, and it really helps our football team. Obviously, by nature you're eliminating an opportunity for one of their eight, 10, 12 drives in the game. You’re taking one of them away, and you’re giving your offense hopefully a favorable opportunity. We place a great premium on that, and we’ll continue try to do better at it.”

During the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, defensive backs and linebackers went through drills designed to simulate interceptions and forcing fumbles.

But what if all the drills in the world don’t lead to more takeaways?

“You can continue to coach it differently in practice, you can address it in the meeting room with tape, you can give other guys opportunities to do some of the things the guys on the field at the time aren’t doing,” Garrett said. “You evaluate everything. How you coach, how you play and we’re going to continue to place a premium on it because it makes a big difference in winning and losing in this league, and it has for a long time.”

The Cowboys' defense has gone 213 snaps without a takeaway. Late in the third quarter of their 42-17 loss to the Denver Broncos, rookie cornerback Jourdan Lewis intercepted Trevor Siemian. There have been 213 offensive plays since that takeaway by the Cowboys’ opponents without a turnover.

“Can’t think of it now,” Lewis said. “Just got to try and go get them right now.”

“It’s one of our main points," safety Byron Jones said. "It’s hard to win the old-fashioned way and just play good defense the entire time. You’ve got to take the ball away. You’ve got to make a splash play.”

The Cowboys have had what defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli calls “missed opps,” but not even enough of those. They missed a chance at a fumble by Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff after a DeMarcus Lawrence sack. They have had a couple of potential interceptions fall incomplete.

“Once one comes, you hope there is more to come, that there’s more to follow,” Jones said. “But we’ve got to get one first. We’ve got to get one.”