It is clear the Bucs do not have the lines to compete with the Saints. The Saints have the best DL/OL in the division and it is not even close.
With that said I still like the Bucs interior OL over the long haul, but the tackle play is deeply flawed and Bucs must pursue upgrades. Dotson is all but done and D. Smith is clearly overpaid. On the other side the Bucs have Vea as a building piece but the Bucs need to invest more young guys to team with Vea. Gholston and Suh are more than fine stop gaps at the moment though.
Watching how Atlanta struggles shows how neglecting the lines really impacts a team. The Falcons have invested in their lines to some extent but the failure to draft and develop has been their achilles heel and it shows. GM Dimitroff must be feeling the heat for failing to build the lines over a long period of time spanning two coaching staffs or even three if you want to go that far.
The Panthers I think have strong DL but their OL has been up/down. Bucs are right there with the Panthers in terms of line play but the Saints are the top of the class and why they are an elite team in the NFC IMVHO.
Not sure why Cowherd was so down on the Saints but I think he has finally come around to them the last two weeks. The Saints have three quality wins to show for without Brees and that is a huge statement to send to the rest of the NFC and NFL.
