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HAMILTON — Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive end Jonathan Newsome was deflated but defiant.

After his team lost 53-7 to the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday — dropping Saskatchewan’s record to a CFL-worst 1-7-0 — Newsome was asked where his frustration level was.

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“At an all-time high,” he said. “But every great team battles adversity.

“For me personally, I’ve got to keep the right mindset. Every day I’ve got to come to work ready to go and play with heart. That’s all I can do: Control the controllables.”

Saskatchewan’s slow start to the season has been surprising.

The Roughriders hired Chris Jones to be their head coach, general manager and vice-president of football operations in December, just days after he had guided the Edmonton Eskimos to the 2015 Grey Cup title.

He has a well-earned reputation as one of the CFL’s top defensive coaches — and yet the Roughriders’ defence is last in most of the league’s statistical categories.