At what point do you put him in the crib now? When he has his eyes closed and "asleep"?
Do you continue to to pat once he's in the crib?
Assuming you're patting until he's "asleep," you really don't have a wind down. You're just putting him to sleep. And as a spirited baby, he prolly needs a wind down routine before you put him to sleep.
So this is what I would try:
When you see the tired cues, head to his room and do something mellow in there. Sit in a chair, on the floor, rock...talk or sing songs, play with his feet and hands a little. Try 5 minutes (spirited may need more, but mine needs 5 minutes and he's got a good splash of spirited in him). The key is to get him more mellow and quiet, a transition from play time, and not bouncing off the walls (but I must note, sometimes mine bounces like a wild man all through the wind down, but once he's in his crib, he gets down to business -- it's so weird). During this time, you can use your verbal cues as well, "Time to sleep Micah."
Then start your sleep routine, close blinds, shush/pat, place in crib, etc, and out you go.
If he starts to yell for you, go in, turn him over, and try to resettle however you do it (without picking up), even if it's a little singing. But stop when it seems he's settled down so he can finish going to sleep himself. If he protests (meaning real crying, not fussing), PU. The SECOND he stops, put him right back down (on tummy is fine). If he flips over and starts crying again, try to resettle again in the crib. If it's not working, PU again. Repeat, etc. If he's in your arms and starts to arch back or push out, just put him right down. He may be trying to create his own space so he can settle himself (mine does this). If he's still crying, try to resettle in the crib, but if that doesn't work, go ahead and PU again. If he doesn't stop crying in your arms after a minute or two, PD anyway. Try to resettle, if not, PU again. If he ever starts to cry on his way back down, PD anyway (but you can PU again once he hits the mattress and you've taken your hands away). This could take 20 minutes (or more). Mine usually let me PD without protesting within 5-6 PU/PD.
I would do this every time he's been rolling around and yells for you or if you're trying to extend a short nap.
I don't think the paci is bad since you're not letting him keep it, it's just to calm down. If you feel like his cries are just escalating and getting frantic (as opposed to turning into mantra cries and loosing steam), go ahead and use it to calm him down.
The goals are to 1. introduce an actual wind down period and 2. get him used to going to sleep himself (regardless of his position) using PU/PD. Once you've been doing these for a few days to a week, try cutting down the patting time you do next to crib, putting him down more and more awake. I only hold mine for 20-30 seconds (before his eyes close!). It ends up being more of a sleep cue than it is me putting him to sleep. KWIM?
Once he becomes more mobile, it gets easier because he knows how to get himself back into his favorite position. Mine still gets disoriented and stuck though -- it's gonna happen. :roll: Give him lots of practice during his A time too! It'll also help tucker him out so he might start taking longer naps.
And when doing PU/PD, do it no longer than 40 minutes straight (take out of room for a little bit, 20 min or so, then start over again) or until next cycle time. When I'm trying to extend a nap, I only try until he's been in the crib for 1.5 hours or so, then I just get him up and start the next cycle, putting him to bed early if I need to.
Hope that gives you some ideas to try!