Their hypothesis now has some new evidence to back it up: a paper by Cuesta et al. (2015) details the first fossil evidence of podotheca in non-avian dinosaurs, specifically, theropods. Cuesta et al. (2015) examined the holotype specimen of Concavenator corcovatus (MCCM-LH 6666) and found fossil podotheca-like scale impressions around the right foot. During decay the claw sheathes and soft tissue had detached from the bone and moved slightly away from the foot, but the authors were able to calculate the degree of skin-slippage and reconstruct the foot as it most likely originally appeared.
I think we should conduct more taphonomic research into the decay and disarticulation of podotheca-covered legs. I’ll get right onto it, right after I whip-up this PhD thesis…
Casal, G. A., Martinez, R. D., Ibiricu, L. M., Riga, B. G., Foix, N. 2013. Taphonomy of the theropod dinosaur Aniksosaurus darwini, Bajo Barreal Formation, Late Cretaceous of Patagonia (Argentina) [In Spanish, English abstract]. Ameghiniana, 50: 6.
Cuesta, E., Díaz-Martínez, I., Ortega, F., Sanz, J.L., 2015. Did all theropods have chicken-like feet? First evidence of a non-avian dinosaur podotheca. Cretaceous Research, 56: 53–59.