Brian,
Another thing you might consider is to use a rake (the kind with the hard tines, not a leaf rake) to blend the areas that are soil with the surrounding turf. You don't say what type of turf you have so I'm assuming it is tall fescue like most of the yards in SD County. The raking will help even out the bare spots and make the use of the hand roller a little more effective. Make sure that you use a good topping mix when you put down your seed, which should also be of good quality. Hydroscape in Escondido is a good place to get both the seed and the topping mix. I'd use the roller again once you get the seed and topping mix down to make sure you have a good planting. Make sure you keep the planted areas wet during the heat of the day and don't let them dry out until the seed starts to sprout.
Mark