Don't know if I'd call it the command grab whiffing issue, it's just how meaties are. You're not hitting them with the normal until the last active frame or last few active frames which means the blockstun triggers later, technically making the move more plus on block which in turn increases its block cancel advantage preventing it from ticking like it usually would. Tick throws usually work with moves that have a small amount of block cancel advantage, by hitting them with meatier normals you increase that block cancel advantage.
Edit: What Paulo said lol