It’s been a rough past month for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. They’re currently on a four-game losing streak and are sporting a CFL-worst 1-7 record on the year.

The Riders are coming off their worst loss of that stretch, a 53-7 beatdown at the hands of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and now they’re looking for answers on how to get the season back on track.

Head coach Chris Jones said the reason for last Saturday’s loss is simple.

“When you turn the football over and you take early penalties – we took 11 penalties in the first half – and you put yourself in such a big hole that you can dig out of it, and then to compound the negative you have the turnovers in the second half. It showed us that you can’t turn the ball over and can’t take penalties,” said Jones.

After such a lopsided loss, the effort of the team could be called into question, but Jones added that their loss had nothing to do with effort.

“I watched the effort and I watched it closely in all three phases and the effort was there, even in the fourth quarter,” said Jones. “The score isn’t indicative of how hard we played. Did we play smart? At times, no. Did we play execution football? No.”

Losing isn’t something that Jones and his coaching staff are use to after back-to-back stellar seasons in Edmonton, ending with a Grey Cup title last November. The record was touted after Jones was hired that he’s never missed the playoffs as a coach in the CFL and he added on Tuesday that he hasn’t been a part of a start like this in a long time.

“I was 1-4 one time as a JV baseball coach and that was in 1991,” said Jones.

The lack of success so far doesn’t mean a change in philosophy however.

“Our approach is the same, we know our process and it’s been too successful over the course of how many years we’ve all been together,” said Jones. “We’ve got to remain positive and we’ve got to, not play mistake free football, but cut down on the errors, and continue to give effort.”

The offence has struggle over the past two weeks with Darian Durant back under centre, managing just 17 points and one touchdown over that span.

“Certainly we’ve got to protect the quarterback better, we can’t let guys run up the middle free, we’ve got a 34-year-old quarterback that needs some protection and then when he does get the protection, he needs to do a better job of protecting the football,” said Jones.

On the injury front, receiver Rob Bagg is doubtful for this week’s game in Edmonton, while the offensive line should get a boost with the return of veteran tackle Xaiver Fulton.

The Riders are facing a make-or-break next four weeks as they will face the Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who hold down the two spots ahead of the Riders in the West Division, twice each.

“We’re not where we want to be and we’ve got to go in and approach (this stretch) the same way that we would Week 1,” said Jones. “Edmonton is a football team that we know, they’re talented and we’ve got to go in with a solid mindset.”

Getting into the mindset will be the focus over the next two days as the Riders prepare for their trip to Commonwealth Stadium. They kick off against the Eskimos on Friday night at 8 p.m.