Hi Jovi, welcome to simply maya. When I build a skeleton, I just use a classic method, I've tried a reverse foot set up it works pretty much the same, just has a few more bones in the foot. I prefer the setup like mike has in his picture above. As far as the detached foot, I haven't animated a character with one so I have no comparison, most of the people I know just use the classic skeleton setup, its easy and reliable. It very easy to put in iks and setup foot rolls. Ill try and dig up some more info for you soon.
Alias/Wave Front has a great book and tells you everything about setting up a great skeleton. Its called, Character Rigging and Animation. I have it and use it everytime I make a skeleton.
Kurt
I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination, knowledge is limited, imagination encircles the world. (Albert Einstein)
https://www.artstation.com/kurtb