When reporters have approached Morris Claiborne throughout his time with the Cowboys, he's had a general idea of the questions about to be asked.

It's usually something centered on an injury he's working his way back from or how he's not meeting the lofty expectations that come with being the sixth overall pick in 2012.

Entering his fifth season with the Cowboys, Claiborne is hoping to change the questions.

"When you all come talk to me," Claiborne said, "I want you to say, 'Oh, that was a nice pick' or 'you made this play. How does it feel to be going to the Pro Bowl? How does it feel to be going to a Super Bowl?' Those are the questions I want.

"I'm ready to take on that task. I know the coaches expect a lot from me. I expect a lot from myself, nothing less. I have some high goals this year and I'm trying to reach them. I'm going to do whatever it takes to get there."

Claiborne isn't angry with reporters. He understands that he has to stay healthy to achieve those goals. Hamstring, knee, ankle and shoulder injuries have caused him to miss 26 games. During minicamp in June, Claiborne tweaked his hamstring, causing him to be held out of individual and team drills the final two days.

His lack of production -- he has three career interceptions -- and inability to stay healthy caused the Cowboys to decline picking up the fifth-year option on Claiborne's rookie contract. Instead, they re-signed him to a one-year deal worth up to $3.75 million in March.

In hopes of shaking things up in a secondary that didn't make enough plays on the ball in 2015, Claiborne has been lining up at left cornerback. Brandon Carr has played on the left side the last four years while Claiborne has been on the right.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli downplayed the move because cornerbacks have to play both sides in Marinelli's system, so Claiborne will still occasionally find himself on the right.

"I just felt like switching," Carr said. "The left side you get combinations with the slot [receivers] and multiple formations on that side, so I felt like he's at a point right now in his career that he can benefit playing on that left side, and he can make some plays over there."

Claiborne didn't intercept any passes when reporters were allowed to watch offseason workouts, but he made some nice plays to knock passes away from receivers during OTA team drills. He also took some reps as a kickoff returner.

"He looks good," Carr said. "He looks confident. He looks smooth out there. He has an extra edge to him this year. He's really homing in on that left side right now. I'm excited for him."

During his final two seasons at LSU, Claiborne intercepted a total of 11 passes. He has recently gone back and watched highlights of some of those plays. If not for the injuries, Claiborne believes he'd be playing at that same elite level in the NFL.

"I just need to prove to myself that I can go out and make plays," he said. "It hasn't happened for me, but I feel like it's going to happen when it happens. But right now, I'm pushing the issue."

Claiborne has noticeably bulked-up his upper body and says he's stronger than ever. He plummeted to 150 pounds two years ago while recovering from multiple knee surgeries. At the time, he struggled to lift 225 pounds.

Claiborne now weighs around 190, and he can bench press 225 pounds 11 times.

But will the added strength lead to improved durability?

"The more he can practice, the better he gets," Marinelli said. "I think it's his time. He's had a real solid camp."

A closer look

Morris Claiborne was the first of three cornerbacks selected in the first round of the 2012 draft. How his career numbers compare:

(GS=games started, INT=interceptions, PD=passes defensed, FF=fumbles forced. FR=fumbles recovered, TKL=tackles, TD=touchdowns)

Twitter: @jonmachota