Patrick Willis stands at the circle’s nucleus, surrounded by his 49ers teammates and coaches. His gloved hands chop through the air like those of a symphony conductor. Ear-piercing words pour from his mouth as his eyes widen with intensity.

This has become a pregame ritual after warm-ups for the 49ers (6-1), who take a five-game win streak into FedEx Field for Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins (3-4).

Willis, the 49ers’ decorated inside linebacker, isn’t in the middle of that pregame huddle for mere theatrics. Consider it part of his relentless quest to become a complete player.

He is becoming a vocal leader, something the 49ers had hoped for from their marquee player, while knowing his soft-spoken nature might not allow it.

“I’m not trying to emulate anybody else, or go read pregame speeches or watch movies to figure out what to say,” Willis said last week. “I just say what I’m feeling.”

Coach Jim Harbaugh typically retreats to the back of that huddle, stares into the crowd and listens to his defensive captain. Harbaugh saves his rallying cry for later, in the celebratory locker room, when he’ll ask players: “Who’s got it better than us?”

Nobody in the league might have a more rabid player than Willis, a Pro Bowler his first four seasons after being selected in the first round of the 2007 draft.

But his career has been that of a tackler, not a speaker. Pregame hype has been more suited for such outspoken players as Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. What’s gotten into Willis?

“Over years past, there might be one person that has something to say, or coach will tell a guy to break it down,” Willis said. “Just this season, for the most part, it’s been pretty much me.

“If anyone has anything else to say that’s on their mind, I’ll let them say that, too.”

Respected tight end Vernon Davis is usually in the middle of that mosh pit, too. Running back Anthony Dixon, one of the team’s most energetic figures, often is jumping around in Willis’ shadow.

“When Pat is up there, doing his thing and being captain, it adds more spike to the punch,” Dixon said. “When he talks, we know he’s going about his business.”

Business is picking up for the 49ers. Their defense leads the league in fewest rushing yards and points allowed, the latter being the most critical category in coordinator Vic Fangio’s esteemed opinion.

Other stars are emerging alongside Willis. Defensive end Justin Smith already has Pro Bowl credentials, but highlight-reel plays have come from cornerback Carlos Rogers (a Redskins refugee), nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga, defensive end Ray McDonald and safeties Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner.

No unit is influencing that surge more than Willis’ linebacker corps. Ahmad Brooks, Parys Haralson and rookie Aldon Smith are flourishing on the outside while Willis has found a perfect sidekick in NaVorro Bowman.

Bowman’s 78 tackles, per the 49ers’ in-house stats, are six more than Willis’ total. One explanation for that stat differential: Willis is covering tight ends more than he ever has, thus pulling him away from the line of scrimmage.

“At the end of the day, I’ve done all that, whether it’s leading the league or whether it’s leading the team in tackles,” Willis said. “To me, the most important thing is winning, and that’s something I haven’t been able to do as a team.”

That message is relayed in his pregame speeches. Harbaugh loves their team-oriented nature and the way he says Willis “lets his passion come out.”

No one has ever questioned that aspect of Willis. A recent ESPN story revealed even more about Willis’ inner character, tracing to his childhood and how he overcame an abusive father.

Although Willis speaks softly off the gridiron, his fury is evident on game day, even before kickoff.

Rookie cornerback Chris Culliver offered this narrative of a Willis pregame talk: “He’ll start off like, ‘This! Is! The! Day!’ Then he’ll look around and give us that look. ‘The day that we put an end to all the critics!’

“It gives you that tingling feeling in the body,” Culliver added. “It makes you want to jump out of your skin and knock somebody out real quick.”

That knock-around business is still Willis’ specialty. But he also can be viewed now as a speaker of the 49ers’ house — and pregame huddle.

For more on the 49ers, see Cam Inman’s Hot Read blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers.